RANGPUR, April 8, 2020 (BSS) – Some 4,000 jobless and distressed families of all five unions in Rangpur Sadar upazila already received 40 tonnes of rice in addition to other food staffs and essentials amid coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.
Sadar upazila Chairman Nasima Zaman Boby and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Israt Sadia Sumi distributed the food assistance at the people’s doorsteps in recent days maintaining social distancing to prevent community transmission of COVID-19.
Talking to BSS, Boby, also Women Affairs Secretary of district Awami League, said she has already distributed 40 tonnes of rice, including 35 tonnes allocated by the government and more five tonnes of rice collected under her personal initiative.
“We have so far distributed 40 tonnes of rice among 4,000 families with 10-kg each along with one kg of pulse, 3 to 4 kg of potato, one litre of edible oil, one kg of salt, one bottle of liquid soap and masks among members of each of these families,” she said.
Under the special food assistance programme, each of the 1,500 distressed families, including 482 beggars, 354 distressed families at different Asrayan Prakalpa and Cluster Villages and 664 others also received the same food package in the upazila.
“We have also arranged hand-washing facilities on the premises of all offices, union parishad grounds, police station, markets and public places for the people along with inspiring them to remain at home to prevent COVID-19 spread,” she said.
Besides, Boby has distributed 60,000 pieces of masks donated by ‘Rangpur Karupanno Limited’ and owners of different readymade garments factories and also purchased with personal money, among the people of all five unions of Sadar upazila.
“Financed by Sadar upazila parishad, we already purchased and distributed 5,000 bottles of liquid soaps and are spraying disinfectants in all 48 hats and Bazaars of five unions after every two days with assistance of workers of Swechchasebak League,” she added.
“We have already distributed thousands of awareness raising leaflets and conducted campaigns using loudspeakers across the Sadar upazila area,” she said, adding all of these activities, including distribution of food packages, are still continuing.
Boby said she started distribution of food packages, masks, liquid soaps and leaflets instantly responding to the call of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stand beside the needy, jobless, distressed and floating people amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
She expressed gratitude to Sadar UNO Israt Sadia Sumi for her ceaseless assistance and reiterated commitment to continue the relief activities with assistance of the government and also at her personal initiative until the COVID-19 situation becomes normal.