Government has taken an initiative to provide food assistance to those who have lost their means of daily income, due to the ongoing 10-day shutdown.

Beggars, day labourers, rickshaw-pullers, van-pullers, transport workers, restaurants workers and roadside tea stall owners across the country will be brought under the essential food supply facilities.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the necessary directives in this regard, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

Food assistance will also be provided to farm labourers and other beneficiaries under city corporations, municipalities, union and ward levels.

The ministry has also directed to carry out the whole process in a coordinated way with the district administration if affluent section of the society, organisations and NGOs provide food support locally.

It is extremely important to have a coordinated approach at this moment, said the ministry.