Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sent gifts worth Tk10 crore to the people of Cox’s Bazar on the occasion of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr— the largest religious festival of Muslims.
The matter was confirmed by sources from the Cox’s Bazar district administration.
Insiders from the administration told the Dhaka Tribune that these gifts – consisting of cash and other items – are not for the well-off, but for the people who suffered hardships due to the influx of Rohingya refugees there.
The gifts were sent from the personal relief fund of the prime minister.
The district administration formally started distributing these gifts items from the Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women’s College campus in Ukhiya, around 11am on Tuesday.
The distribution ceremony was inaugurated by Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya.
An insider from the administration told the correspondent: “Many people faced difficulties as forcibly displaced Myanmar citizens came pouring into the region last year.
“Market prices of necessary commodities, the labour market, and the social and economic sectors were significantly affected. Considering these factors, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina allotted Tk10 crore from her personal relief fund.”
The insider continued: “The distribution of this gift began on Tuesday (June 12). A total of 33,334 families throughout the Cox’s Bazar district will receive one-to-two thousand Taka in cash each.
Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya inaugurates the distribution ceremony at Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women’s College campus in Ukhiya, around 11am on Tuesday Dhaka Tribune
“Along with the cash, we are also distributing: fine rice, sugar, milk powder, vermicelli, soybean oil, bottles of sherbet, lungis, saris and other commodities.”
Responding to a query, Kazi Abdur Rahman, deputy district administrator in Cox's Bazar said: “The distribution of the prime minister’s gift of Tk10 crore has begun simultaneously in 71 unions under the district.
“Along with cash, each of the selected families is getting: 2kgs of rice, 1kg sugar, 500 grams of milk powder, four packets of vermicelli, 1 litre of Soybean oil, one bottle of sherbet, one lungi and one sari.”
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Kamal Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune: “These gifts are not for the rich, but for the people who are improvised. Of the Tk10 crore gift, Tk6.66 crore will be distributed in cash.
“These gifts are being distributed in envelopes and bags with greetings from the prime minister.”
The deputy commissioner added: “More than one million displaced Rohingyas are presently staying in Cox’s Bazar, following the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar last year.
“The local populace has faced a significant amount of difficulties in their day-to-day lives due to the influx of these refugees.”
The formal inauguration of the distribution program was attended by: Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Mohammad Shah Kamal, Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Abdul Mannan, Cox’s Bazar Superintendent of Police Dr AKM Iqbal Hossain, and many others.
