Govt to bring back rice at Tk10 per kg for ultra-poor

Starting next month, the government will bring rice at Tk 10 per kilogram to 5 million ultra-poor families across the country from March of this year under its 'Food-Friendly Programme'.

Talking to the reporters at a press conference at the Directorate of Food , Food Minister Quamrul Islam, said in one month each family will be able to buy a total of 30 kg rice at Tk10 per kg.

The project will be conducted in two phases - in the months of March, April and September, October, November, he said.

"The government had decided to buy 600,000 metric tonnes of rice in the Aman season, out of which it has already collected 540,000 MT and the remaining amount will be collected in time as well," he added.

"Now we have 14,20,000 MT (14.2 lakh or 1.42 million) of food grain in reserve including 10,40,000 MT (10.4 lakh or 1.04 million) of rice," Quamrul said.

In September 2016, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had inaugurated the Food-Friendly Programme specifically oriented towards the ultra-poor under-privileged people of Chilmari upazila in Kurigram.

Director General of Food Directorate Badrul Hasan and other senior officials were also present there.