SYLHET, Sept 11: As many as 243,724 listed ultra-poor people of Sylhet division will come under the low-price rice selling programme.
It includes 30,713 in Sylhet, 43,377 in Moulvibazar, 78,044 in Habiganj and highest 91,590 in Sunamganj districts.
The dealers have already taken their delivery from the concerned depots, the Food Department officials informed recently.
A card holder will be able to purchase highest 30 kg of rice at the rate of Tk 10 per kg per month.
As the government ordered for listing ultra poor as card holder for giving them the low-cost rice, the job was done in a hurry through the union council chairmen and members in the last year.
But, on the basis of media reports and complaints from different quarters we came to know about inclusion of a good number of well-to-do persons while more than one person was included from same family, in violation of government policy in many places, an official said.
About 30,000 inappropriate names were dropped in phases, informed Regional Controller of Food, Sylhet division, Md Anisuzzaman.
Meanwhile, the dealerships of 12 rice traders were cancelled on charge of different irregularities in the programme in different areas like Sylhet, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sunamganj districts.
Some of them however were sued. Besides, Actions were taken in a number of specific cases of irregularities in rice selling, the official informed.
The government had launched the programme last year for five months, considered as lean period. These are September, October, November and March and April.
Our Magura correspondent adds: Tk 10 per kg rice selling programme has launched in the district on Tuesday.
District food office sources said a total of 2,478 ultra-poor families in the district will enjoy the opportunity to purchase 30 kg of rice per month at Tk 10 per kg.
Some 67 dealers have already been recruited across the district for the programme.
Belal Hossein of Beroil village under Magura Sadar said rice is selling at Tk 35 per kg in the local markets. But the programme provides the same quantity at Tk 10.
"We are happy as the government took the step for us", he added.
Dealer Titash Raha of Athrkhada union under the upazila said rice at Tk 10 per kg is popular across the country. Ultra-poor people are overjoyed with the programme.
The programme also ensures quality of the essential commodity item, he added.
Magura district food controller Rezaul Islam said, "We are monitoring all the activities under the programme to avoid all irregularities.
