Dhaka: Food Minister Qamrul Islam on Tuesday warned that stern actions will be taken against those who will try to indulge in irregularities while implementing the ‘Food-Friendly Programme’.

‘No one will be spared if allegation is found, even if they’re the ruling party leaders and activists,’ he told a press briefing at the Bangladesh Secretariat, reports UNB.

Qamrul said 11 cases have already been filed against 22 people for resorting to irregularities in the food support programme and six of them put behind bars.

Besides, nine people were fined and 44 dealerships revoked for carrying out irregularities in the programme, he added.

Qamrul said letters have been sent to all the divisional commissioners to take proper steps for implementing the programme smoothly.

The Food Ministry also sent letters to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of all the districts asking them to take necessary steps to prepare the lists of stakeholders, recruit dealers and take actions against troublemakers, the minster added.

Besides, eight separate committees have been formed in eight divisions under the supervision of the Food Ministry to make sure the programme runs smoothly, Qamrul said.

Earlier on September 7, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the new social safety net scheme, 'Food-Friendly Programme', for some 50 lakh extremely poor families across the country.

Under the programme, selected cardholders will get 30 kilograms of rice every month through village ration dealers at a rate of Tk 10 per kg.

The ultra-poor families have been selected through the local public representatives. They will get 30 kg rice in September, October and November in 2016 and March and April in 2017. The months have been selected in view of non-availability of work for the day-labourers during that period.