RANGPUR, – Around 77 lakh people of over 18.91 lakh jobless and distressed families have so far received special relief assistance from the government in the wake of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Rangpur division.
Officials said distribution of 19,448 tonnes of rice and Taka 11.59 crore among 18.91 families already completed in all eight districts of the division.
“The government has so far allocated 22,734 tonnes of rice and Taka 14 crore for the jobless families of the division to stand beside them during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Zakir Hossain told BSS.
The district administrations with the assistance of local public representatives have been distributing the rice and money under strict monitoring systems maintaining physical distance to prevent community transmission of COVID-19.
“A total of 18.91 lakh families have received 19,348 tonnes of rice while 16.14 lakh, among the total 18.91 lakh, beneficiary families also got Taka 11.59 crore in terms of cash money, food items or baby foods in the division,” Hossain said.
Currently, the district administrations have stocks of 3,286 tonnes of rice and Taka 2.41 crore and the government continues allocating the same to continue the relief activities till the COVID-19 situation becomes normal.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Rangpur ATM Akhteruzzaman today told BSS that distribution of 4,829 tonnes of rice and Taka 2.17 crore among 3.61 lakh families was completed across the district.
“We have a stock of 449 tonnes of rice and Taka 32.74 lakh to continue the relief activities of the government in Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC), three municipalities and eight upazilas of the district,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of RpCC Ruhul Amin Miah said distribution of some 550 tonnes of rice out of 1,000 tonnes, allocated by the government through the district administration, was completed among 5,500 families in all 33 wards of the city.
“Besides, we’ve distributed 150 tonnes of rice among 1,500 jobless, distressed and backward families of the city from the own resources of RpCC,” he said, adding that distribution of 450 tonnes of rice allocated by the government continues in the city.
Kurigram DRRO Dilip Kumar Saha said distribution of 2,712 tonnes of rice and Taka 1.72 crore among 2.71 lakh beneficiary families in all nine upazilas of the district already completed with a stock of 338 tonnes of rice and Taka 17.26 lakh.
Similarly, distribution of 1,609 tonnes of rice and Taka 1.21 crore among 1.67 lakh families in Nilphamari and 2,100 tonnes of rice and Taka 1.54 crore among 1.90 lakh families in Panchagarh districts completed by Tuesday.
The administrations have also completed the distribution of 1,567 tonnes of rice and Taka 1.06 crore among 1.56 lakh families in Lalmonirhat and 2,083 tonnes of rice and Taka 1.44 crore among 2.17 lakh families in Gaibandha districts.
Besides, distribution of 2,776 tonnes of rice and Taka 1.28 crore among 3.19 lakh families in Dinajpur and 1,772 tonnes of rice and Taka 1.16 crore among 2.30 lakh families in Thakurgaon districts was completed.
Chairman of Zorabari union in Domar upazila of Nilphamari Md. Abul Hassan said he distributed 21 tonnes of government rice among 2,100 jobless and distressed families of the union with 10-kg of rice each.
Md. Kudrat-e-Khuda Milan, chairman of Banglabandha union in Tentulia upazila of Panchagarh district, said he distributed 28 tonnes of government rice among 2,800 families of his union and is currently distributing five tonnes more.
