Army chief distributes food items among 5,000 people

Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed today distributed essential food items among 5000 jobless, needy and destitute people here.

He handed over the food assistance as a part of instant humanitarian support programme by the Bangladesh Army under "Operation Covid Sheild-Phase-2” to mitigate the economic hardship during lockdown and coronavirus situation.    

The army chief distributed food stuff among transport workers, easy bike and mahendra drivers, Jobless people, shopkeepers, day labourers, slum dwellers, ultra poor and disabled workers on district stadium premises and other parts of the city on different occasions.

Each of the beneficiary people has received five kgs of rice, three kgs of pulse, three kgs of atta, three kgs of potatoes, two kgs of sugar, two liters of edible oil and one kg of salt.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 55 Infantry Division Major General Md Nurul Anwar, Khulna divisional commissioner and high ranking military and civil government officials, among others, were present on the occasion.

The army chief visited activities of "Operation Covid Shield-phase-2) by the 55 Army Infantry Division at Shibbari intersection in the city.

He also asked the army personnel to perform duties with utmost sincerity and responsibility and distribute food stuff among the destitute and needy people during the coronavirus pandemic period.

He said the present government is providing food support to destitute people to meet their food demand.

"We provide the service to implement the government order as per directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he said.

Government's humanitarian activities will continue to help the needy jobless people during lockdown, the army chief said.

He also urged the people to avoid gathering, remain at home, maintain social distancing and properly abide by the health directives of the government to prevent community transmission of Covid-19 for own safety and keep others safe.

Mentioning that huge food is stored at the government godown and needy people will get it, he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working tirelessly for the wellbeing of the poor people.

"The government is always with you. Food stuff will be sent at the people’s doorsteps," he said, adding that needy people will get food assistance through a phone call at number 333.

He, however, said the army is conducting activities under "Covid Shield-phase-2” across the country to cooperate the law enforcement agencies and civil administration as per the directive by the government to combat coronavirus pandemic.

It is mentioned that army personnel of the 55 Army Infantry Division has been deployed in Khulna division and 11 districts of Dhaka division.

In Khulna, the 55 Army Infantry Division is regularly conducting relief distribution programme, operating medical team and patrolling alongside the law enforcement agencies.

Since beginning the lockdown from July 1 to July 12, it distributed food stuff among 3,000 needy destitute people and a total of 1,343 common people have got medical treatment and free medicine through five medical camps in Khulna.