There is a lot of grievance among the police over low quality ration. The ration products include: rice, lentils, flour, sugar and edible oil. The main complaint is against sub-standard rice.
They also want lifelong ration and made a demand in this regard on Feb 4 during police week. The prime minister also pledged to look into the matter.
In 2008, an amended ration policy-2008 was approved by the ministry of finance and the aim was to remove disparity in rations.
As per rule, four persons of the family of a policeman will get rations. This includes, rice, flour, sugar, edible oil, lentils. Only non-gazette members will get fire wood. In addition, if a member of the police force dies during duty then the family with a maximum of three members will get ration facility till the full time of the person’s job tenure.
Those who will get the ration will get ration cards issued in their name and then his/her family members will be able to take ration. A person can take ration from any district other than the one in s/he is working.
For this, unit head has to be informed 30 days in advance, who will then inform the police headquarters. Ration can be picked in the same manner while a police member is serving at a UN mission or is taking training abroad.
Two children of a police family is capable of getting ration till the age of 25. But if a ward of a police member marries before that age or is earning then the ration is discontinued.
However, if a child is disabled or is dependent on parents, then ration will continue as long as the child is dependent.
If both wife and husband are in police then one will get ration facility. On special occasions, police members get improved variety of rice.
Several officials of the police headquarters say that the rice provided is low quality and the rice is often littered with small pieces of stone.
One official of the logistic department says the rice for this year is stored in the previous year so most of the rice becomes spoilt.
However, everyone has approved the quality of oil, sugar, flour and lentils.
Inspector Abdul Halim, said: “We don’t have problem with the ration but the rice is inedible and we are forced to sell it later at a low rate.”
DIG of police head-quarters, Monirul Islam, says: “the police is being modernized and ration will also be improved.”
AIG of police HQ, Milon Mahmud, says: “The rice is usually bought a year or two before and for other items, we try to buy the best products.”