The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Government will start open market sale (OMS) of rice at a reduced rate throughout the country from today with a view to curb the price spiral of the staple food.

A total of 2,000 OMS dealers will sall rice from 870 points across the country at Tk 25 per kg, official sources said yesterday, adding that the Government has already allocated over 45,000 metric tonnes of rice for the open market operation.

Each of the family will be able to purchase 6 kg of rice in a week at the reduced rate from the OMS dealers.

Secretary of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management Mohammad Aiyub Mia has said the OMS operation of rice would continue till the last week of April, when the major Boro and IRRI paddy would be harvested.

Reports reached in the capital from different districts last night said the 2,000 OMS dealers have collected rice from Government silos yesterday.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) yesterday opened 10 new outlets for selling rice in the capital to facilitate an increased distribution of the foodgrain among the public.