Govt to provide rice at Tk 15 per kg to 55 lakh families

The government will provide rice to 55 lakh low-income families at Tk 15 per kg under the food-friendly programme, with each family receiving 30 kg per month for six months of the year. Additionally, rice will be sold in the open market to 1.15 crore families at Tk 30 per kg. Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury announced the proposal while presenting the 2026-27 fiscal year budget in the National Parliament on Thursday afternoon, June 11.

The proposed budget aims to increase the government's foodgrain storage capacity to 20.50 lakh metric tonnes by the 2027 fiscal year. Source tax on 60 food items has been reduced to keep food prices within reach of ordinary people.

The budget also proposes a special VGF allocation of Tk 675 crore for fishermen. Additionally, food and cash assistance totalling Tk 448 crore has been proposed for 60,000 families living in poverty and extreme poverty under rehabilitation programmes in the hill districts, along with 85 institutions.