UNB, Dhaka :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday warned that no irregularity in the newly introduced ‘Food Friendly Programme’ (F FP), meant for poor people, will be tolerated.
“Stern action will be taken against dealers, including revoking their dealership if there’s any irregularity. Elected public representatives will also face action if any allegation of anomaly is found against them,” she told Parliament. Mentioning that the ‘Food Friendly Programme’ will continue for a long time considering the need of the poor, the Prime Minister said some 2.5-3 crore people will be benefitted from the scheme across the country.
“No one of the country’s people will starve anymore,” she said replying to a starred question from ruling party MP Enamul Haque (Rajshahi-4) during her scheduled question-answer session in the House. Treasury bench member M Israfil Alam (Naogaon-6) raised the question on behalf of Enamul. Sheikh Hasina said her government launched the distribution of foodgrains on September 7 last among the countrywide ultra poor at the union and ward levels at Tk 10 per kg rice through inaugurating a programme by herself at Chilmari upazila in Kurigram. Under the programme, she said, some 50 lakh families will be given maximum 30 kg rice per month at Tk 10 per kg against each card for five months (September-November) and (March-April).
The Leader of the House said the programme was named ‘Food Friendly Scheme’ while its slogan is ‘Sheikh Hasinar Bangladesh, Khuda Hobe Niruddesh’ which is also included in the special initiatives of the Prime Minister. Replying to a supplementary question from Mir Shawkat Ali Badsha (Bagerhat-2), the Prime Minister requested the MPs through the Speaker to look into the lists of the beneficiaries of this programme in their respective areas so that there is no irregularity.
At the same time, she asked the government officials to ensure strict monitoring so that there is no mismatch or irregularity while preparing the list. She suggested incorporating the names of the ultra poor in the lists while excluding the names of affluent ones if there are any. The Prime Minister said by the grace of Almighty Allah, there is now no food deficit in the country while the country has attained the capacity of exporting food grains.
Answering to another supplementary question from treasury bench MP M Israfil Alam, Hasina said the programme for distributing food grains against cards through the ‘Food Friendly Programme’ will continue as long as it deems necessary. She also noted that the way the financial capacity of the country’s people is increasing alongside downward poverty rate, there would be no need for providing such assistance in future.
The Prime Minister, however, said such food assistance will continue for the physically-challenged, aged and incapable people.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday warned that no irregularity in the newly introduced ‘Food Friendly Programme’ (F FP), meant for poor people, will be tolerated.
“Stern action will be taken against dealers, including revoking their dealership if there’s any irregularity. Elected public representatives will also face action if any allegation of anomaly is found against them,” she told Parliament. Mentioning that the ‘Food Friendly Programme’ will continue for a long time considering the need of the poor, the Prime Minister said some 2.5-3 crore people will be benefitted from the scheme across the country.
“No one of the country’s people will starve anymore,” she said replying to a starred question from ruling party MP Enamul Haque (Rajshahi-4) during her scheduled question-answer session in the House. Treasury bench member M Israfil Alam (Naogaon-6) raised the question on behalf of Enamul. Sheikh Hasina said her government launched the distribution of foodgrains on September 7 last among the countrywide ultra poor at the union and ward levels at Tk 10 per kg rice through inaugurating a programme by herself at Chilmari upazila in Kurigram. Under the programme, she said, some 50 lakh families will be given maximum 30 kg rice per month at Tk 10 per kg against each card for five months (September-November) and (March-April).
The Leader of the House said the programme was named ‘Food Friendly Scheme’ while its slogan is ‘Sheikh Hasinar Bangladesh, Khuda Hobe Niruddesh’ which is also included in the special initiatives of the Prime Minister. Replying to a supplementary question from Mir Shawkat Ali Badsha (Bagerhat-2), the Prime Minister requested the MPs through the Speaker to look into the lists of the beneficiaries of this programme in their respective areas so that there is no irregularity.
At the same time, she asked the government officials to ensure strict monitoring so that there is no mismatch or irregularity while preparing the list. She suggested incorporating the names of the ultra poor in the lists while excluding the names of affluent ones if there are any. The Prime Minister said by the grace of Almighty Allah, there is now no food deficit in the country while the country has attained the capacity of exporting food grains.
Answering to another supplementary question from treasury bench MP M Israfil Alam, Hasina said the programme for distributing food grains against cards through the ‘Food Friendly Programme’ will continue as long as it deems necessary. She also noted that the way the financial capacity of the country’s people is increasing alongside downward poverty rate, there would be no need for providing such assistance in future.
The Prime Minister, however, said such food assistance will continue for the physically-challenged, aged and incapable people.
