Dhaka: Food Minister Qamrul Islam on Wednesday said the government will start selling rice at Tk 10 per kg among 50 lakh ultra-poor families across the country from next month under a food-friendly programme.

The minister came up with the announcement during a meeting on the food-friendly programme at the Food Directorate.

An ultra-poor family can buy maximum 30 kg rice at a time at Tk 10 during the months of September, October and November.

He said the government does not want to see any irregularity in the food-friendly programme ahead of the national election. ‘No one will be speared if any irregularity is detected during the three-month programme.’

He asked district food control officers to remain alert against all kinds of irregularities and corruption.

The minister said this time the government will distribute nutritious rice in Kurigram, Keraniganj in Dhaka, Kaliganj in Gazipur, Sarail in Brahmanbaria, Moksedpur in Gopalganj, Faridpur sadar and Bijoynagar, Bamna upazila in Barguna and Ramganj in Laxmipur.

Nutritious rice will gradually be distributed in all upazilas, he added.

‘We’re also taking measures so that nutritious rice could be made available in the marker,’ he said.