BSS, Rangpur :
The Department of Food started selling rice at Taka 10 per kg rate among 8.47 lakh families under the government’s ‘Food-friendly programme’ to make rice available for the ultra poor at a very low price.
“Each card holder family is getting 30 kilogram rice monthly at Taka 10 per kilogram for March and April in the first phase under the programme,” Rangpur Regional Controller of Food Mohammad Raihanul Kabir told BSS today.
The programme is running smoothly bringing relief to the ultra poor during five-month lean periods annually since September 7, 2016 when Prime Minsiter Sheikh Hasina launched the initiative under the social safety net scheme.
The rice is being sold at Taka 10 per kg under the programme for five months of March and April in the first phase and September, October and November in the second phase annually.
About 25,411 tonnes of rice is being sold to card holder beneficiary families of all eight districts in Rangpur division every month for five months annually under the epoch-making food friendly programme.
“The female-led families, widows, divorced or abandoned women and poor households with children, who are not beneficiaries of other social safety-net programmes, were given priority during beneficiary selection process,” Kabir added.
Under the programme, eight lakh 47 thousand and 43 card holder beneficiary families of 534 unions in all 58 upazilas in eight districts of Rangpur division are getting rice at Taka 10 per kilogram through 1,473 appointed village ration dealers.
Over 1.45 lakh card holder families of Rangpur, 1.11 lakh of Gaibandha, 1.41 lakh of Kurigram, 58,730 of Lalmonirhat, 1.32 lakh of Nilphamari, 1.36 lakh of Dinajpur, 50,466 of Panchagarh and 67,070 families of Thakurgaon are getting the opportunity.
“The sale of rice at Taka 10 per kilogram is continuing now in full swing under strict supervision,” Kabir said adding that stern actions would be taken for malpractice and irregularities, if any, in the process.
District Marketing Officer for Rangpur ASM Hassan Sarwar said the market price of course variety rice marked a sharp fall following rice sale at Taka 10 per kg, huge supply and ample stock in food godowns and huge rice production.
“The course variety rice is being sold now in local markets at rates between Taka 21 and Taka 25 against Taka 30 and Taka 34 per kg last year marking a sharp fall by Taka nine on an average,” he said.
Talking to BSS, some card holder beneficiary families expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after receiving 30 kilogram rice at Taka 10 per kilogram for March under ‘The food-friendly programme.’
Poor farm-labouer Hosne Ara of village Iswarpur in Chandanpat union of Sadar upazila said, “I got 30 kilogram rice at Taka 10 per kg for March to feed my seven family members. I will get the same for April soon.”
Poor housewife Nahar, of village Shyampur in the same union said she received 30 kilogram rice at Taka 10 per kg for March to meet food demand of her six family members.
Chairman of Chandanpat union in Rangpur Sadar upazila Aminur Rahman said he would complete distribution of 55.11 tonnes of rice at Taka 10 per kg to 1,837 card holder beneficiary families of the union for March by this week.
Similarly, card holder beneficiaries Sunil Chandra and Bhabesh Chandra of village Gangadas Baraipara in Haridebpur union of Rangpur Sadar upazila said they were happy getting 30 kg rice each at Taka 10 per kilogram for March.
Chairman of Haridebpur union in Rangpur Sadar upazila Iqbal Hossain said he already distributed 69.75 tonnes of rice 30 kilogram rice at Taka 10 per kilogram for March to each of the 2,325 card holder beneficiary families of his union.
