RAJSHAHI, Oct 13, 2018 (BSS)- Rice price in Rajshahi’s retail markets is
now on a downtrend following the government’s launching of “Food Friendly
Programme” to control hiking of rice price.
Within a gap of only one month, rice price has been declined by Taka three
to four per kilogram in the metropolis and its adjacent areas.
While visiting some retail markets in the city and its outskirts on
Thursday and Friday this reporter found the declining trend of the rice
price.
Jubayer Hossain, a retailer of Naohata Bazar under Paba upazila, said rice
price has been declined by Taka 100 to 150 per mound with a gap of one month.
Price of coarse rice has also been reduced by Taka three to four per kilogram
and the price will go down further, he added.
Meanwhile, poor and extreme poor people of the division are very happy
after getting quality rice at Taka 10 per kilogram under the government’s
“Food Friendly Programme”.
“We are getting quality rice this time without facing any irregularities,”
said Abu Bakkar, an elderly man, who came to purchase rice at Pirijpur
crossing under Godagari upazila.
Another beneficiary Hazrat Ali, who came to buy rice at Bornaly crossing,
said the quality of rice is very good and this type of rice is being sold at
least Taka 50 per kilograms in the markets.
Md Muniruzzaman, president of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
said poor and low-income group people were seen in long queues at all selling
points to purchase rice.
Meanwhile, more than 7.73 lakh extreme poor families in all eight districts
under Rajshahi division are getting rice at a rate of Taka 10 per kilogram
(kg) since early September last.
The selected card holders will get 30 kilograms of rice in every month
through village ration dealers at a rate of Taka 10 per kg under the “Food
Friendly Programme”.
“Requisite number of village ration dealers has been appointed at all
unions of the division to sell the rice,” said Md Muniruzzaman, regional
controller of food in Rajshahi, adding “We are selling 2.31 lakh tonnes of
rice through 1,385 dealers every month.”
The government wants to provide food support to the extreme poor families
during the crisis period so that they do not suffer.
For every 500 families, a village ration dealer has been appointed for
distributing the rice smoothly while the widows and physically challenged
people are getting priority in the programme.
The food controller also said that the rice selling programme at Taka 10
per kg will continue for three months from September to November.
The months have been selected in view of non-availability of work for the
day labourers, he added.
He, however, vowed to take punitive measures against those who will engage
in any irregularities during the programme.