Rab shows the way
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Tangail under a project have been helping people grow vegetables on unused land around their house.
Crime Prevention Company-3 of Rab-12 has taken the initiative in line with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's call to make best use of every inch of land in the country.
Rab-12 officials said they believe the initiative will motivate other villagers who could also benefit from nutritional fruits and vegetables grown on unused land near their houses at almost no cost while the country has been shut down partially in an attempt to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Members of the Rab made 12 bamboo frames (macha) on unused land near houses of 12 poor and helpless families in Kathua Jugini village under Baghil union of Tangail Sadar upazila. They also provided free vegetable seeds of different varieties to the families.
Each of the families was also given a sapling of sojne data (moringa or drumstick) as the plant grows rapidly and the grower family can earn some money by selling the produce, which is in good demand at local markets.
Expressing gratitude to the Rab members, the villagers said for the last several months, they had no earnings as they had to stay home due to the shutdown.
Rafiqul Islam, chairman of Baghil Union Parishad, thanked the Rab for their extraordinary effort in helping the villagers.
On one hand, the vegetables grown on the unused land will meet nutritional needs of the poor families while on the other, they will get some money after selling the excess vegetables at the market, he added.
Company Commander Maj Abu Naeem Mohammad Talat said the wheel of economic activities has stopped turning all over the world due to the pandemic and there is no alternative but to increase food production in order to prevent people from going hungry in the coming days.
"We have made frames for cultivating vegetables in unused land next to the houses of 12 helpless families. Through the vegetable gardens, the families will be able to meet their nutritional needs on one hand and on the other hand, they can also benefit financially by selling the excess vegetables at the market."
They spent only Tk 15,000 for the entire project so that councillors or members of all wards in the union can easily take similar initiatives or inspire locals in their areas, he said, adding that the affluent members of the community can also contribute in similar projects to help out the poor in their areas.
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