The New Nation - Internet Edition

Talha Bin Habib

The people of middle-income group have been facing difficulties in purchasing rice in reasonable price since the closure of Open Market Sale (OMS) of rice in different areas of the city.

People of lower and middle classes have been thronging the paramilitary BDR controlled fair price shops everyday for buying rice and other essentials commodities within affordable price since the OMS programme has been closed from May 1.

The queues of people are widening everyday at BDR shops for purchasing necessary items. Many of them could not purchase rice even after waiting long hours.

After the shut-down of the OMS programme, a total of 15 trucks started selling rice from

last week at a price of Tk 25 per kg in different areas of the city. But the arrangement of selling rice in subsidised price is not enough for coping with the demand.

Customers at different BDR shops said they have been facing difficulties in buying rice after the closure of OMS programme.

Fatema Khatun, a housewife at Azimpur Colony ground BDR shop said she had purchased rice after waiting for six hours.

Shah Alam, a construction worker, said he usually purchased rice from OMS dealers. But after the closer of OMS he has been facing difficulties in purchasing rice. He failed to purchase rice yesterday from the BDR shops due to long queue.

"If I waste some hours in buying rice than I might be deprived of my day's salary," he said at Palashi area BDR shop in the city yesterday.

City dwellers of middle income called upon the Government to reintroduce OMS programme till the completion of the ongoing 'Boro' harvest.