The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Open market sale (OMS) of rice begins on August 20 to mitigate the sufferings of low-income people and keep the price of rice at a tolerable level in Ramzan.

Finance and Planning Adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam told journalists after a meeting of the Food planning and Storage committee at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

Food Adviser AMM Shawkat Ali presided over the meeting joined by LGRD Adviser Mohammad Anwarul Iqbal.

The Finance Adviser said the OMS activities would continue for two months from the city corporation area to the upazila level. The price of per kg rice has been fixed at Taka 28.

Under the programme, he said, a total of 2,19,566 tonnes of rice will be sold through dealers and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR). Of which, 10,000 tonnes will be sold through BDR.

On a question, Mirza Azizul said dealers would buy rice from warehouse for Taka 26.50 per kg and sell at Taka 28. Besides, a huge amount of money will be given as subsidy in this sector, he said.

Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumdar, Planning Secretary Jafar Ahmad Chowdhury, Finance Secretary Dr Mohammad Tareq, NBR Chairman Abdul Mazid, Food Secretary Mollah Wahiduzzaman and Agriculture Secretary M Abdul Aziz.