DHAKA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi government Wednesday launched a month-long food rationing program for millions of poor people in the country's six divisional cities and some labor-intensive industrial zones, a senior food ministry official said.
Director General of Bangladesh's Food Directorate Pius Costa told Xinhua on Wednesday, "We've allocated 49,000 tons of rice for selling at subsidized rate under this program among poor people of the country."
He said some 1,790 government dealers will sell rice at 18 taka (about 25.7 U.S. cents) per kilogram, while prices of rice varieties in local markets ranged between 21-37 taka (about 47-63 U.S. cents) per kg.
Costa said sales of rice at subsidized rate which began on Wednesday will run throughout the month in six divisional cities --Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal and three labor-intensive industrial zones -- Narayangonj, Savar, Norsingdi near the capital city of Dhaka.
He said the program has been launched as part of government's efforts to ensure food security for all in the country.
According to a Health Ministry survey report released recently, one in four households in Bangladesh is food insecure.
"We're expecting that around 10 million poor families will get the benefit from the program," Costa said, adding that one can buy 5 kg rice at a time.
Editor: Fang Yang
Copyright ©2009 Xinhua News Agency. All rights reserved.
Director General of Bangladesh's Food Directorate Pius Costa told Xinhua on Wednesday, "We've allocated 49,000 tons of rice for selling at subsidized rate under this program among poor people of the country."
He said some 1,790 government dealers will sell rice at 18 taka (about 25.7 U.S. cents) per kilogram, while prices of rice varieties in local markets ranged between 21-37 taka (about 47-63 U.S. cents) per kg.
Costa said sales of rice at subsidized rate which began on Wednesday will run throughout the month in six divisional cities --Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal and three labor-intensive industrial zones -- Narayangonj, Savar, Norsingdi near the capital city of Dhaka.
He said the program has been launched as part of government's efforts to ensure food security for all in the country.
According to a Health Ministry survey report released recently, one in four households in Bangladesh is food insecure.
"We're expecting that around 10 million poor families will get the benefit from the program," Costa said, adding that one can buy 5 kg rice at a time.
Editor: Fang Yang
Copyright ©2009 Xinhua News Agency. All rights reserved.
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