Govt to build food godowns in three CHT districts: Zahed

Information Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman on Tuesday said the government will establish new food godowns in three hill districts to ensure an uninterrupted food supply in the hilly areas amid natural disasters, communication system limitations and emergency situations.

He said the government is working on a long-term plan to ensure food security for people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region and that the construction of new food warehouses is part of the initiative.

Zahed made the remarks while speaking at a press briefing at the conference room of the Press Information Department (PID) at the Secretariat here.

The communication system in the hilly areas is often unfavourable, he said, adding that landslides and other natural disasters occur, especially during the monsoon season, resulting in disruptions to food transportation.

For this reason, he said, the decision has been taken to build new food godowns in the three hilly districts.

“This will make it easier to store and supply food in emergency situations, and people living in remote areas will receive food assistance quickly,” he said.

Zahed said under the government’s food-friendly programme, 30kg of rice is being distributed to 55 lakh rural poor and extremely poor families across the country at a price of 15 taka per kg.

The programme will continue to ensure food security for low-income people, he added.