The government directed the deputy commissioners to update the list of deprived population for distributing the Tk 10 per kg rice under open market sale (OMS) programme.
The Ministry of Food sent a letter to the DCs in this regard on Wednesday, reports UNB quoting a media statement.
DCs were also asked to include the underprivileged people who don’t have card of Food Friendly Programme (FFP) and provide them 20/10kg OMS rice each; excluding the already listed people of FFP and Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) programmes.
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said the officials and staff of food ministry and Directorate General of Food have been working to distribute OMS rice among poor and unemployed people risking their lives just like doctors during this crisis moment.
They would also continue the food collection programme with honesty and modesty in the upcoming Boro season, he hoped.
Majumder also warned of strict legal action if any official is found to be involved with corruption and irregularities.
A huge number of people under the poverty line have been hit the hardest during the government announced general holidays aiming to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
Bangladesh reported 219 new coronavirus cases and four more deaths on Wednesday, taking the number of fatalities in the country to 50 while 1,231 coronavirus cases are detected in the country so far.