The New Nation - Internet Edition

BUSINESS REPORT

In order to provide food support to poor and lower income group of people across the country during the month of Ramadan, the government has allocated some 2.29 lakh metric tones of rice for selling under the open market sale (OMS) which begins on August 20 next.

However, the quantity of rice has been reduced by two kilograms per head compared to the quantity given under the previous OMS.

Under the previous OMS, suspended about two months ago, five kilograms of rice were sold to each person.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Food has agreed to provide 6,000 metric tonnes of rice to Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) for selling under the OMS during the month of Ramadan. However, the BDR authorities sought 20,000 metric tones of rice from the ministry.

Sources at the Ministry of Food told The New Nation yesterday that the government had planned to sell 2.50 lakh metric tones of rice under the coming OMS programme during the Ramadan.

On the occasion of Ramadan, the BDR will start selling rice from August 15, while the Ministry of Food will begin selling of rice under the OMS from August 20 across the country.

For selling the rice, 150 more dealers are going to be appointed by the government. Under the coming OMS rice will be sold at Tk 28 per kg.

Sources said some 2.20 lakh metric tones of rice were allocated under the previous OMS some three months ago of the current fiscal year. The quantity has been raised by 9,000 metric tones for the coming OMS. Under the OMS, a dealer will receive 500 kilograms of rice a day. A buyer will be given three kilograms of rice every day, which was five kilograms under the previous OMS.

According to the sources, there are now some 7,900 OMS dealers across the country. There were allegations of corruption and irregularities found against 251 dealers during the previous OMS operation. The Ministry of Food has decided not to sell rice through those accused dealers. Besides, 32 dealerships have been cancelled following serious allegations of corruption against them.

Sources said the Ministry of Food has already asked the Directorate of Food to take necessary steps so that no crises or irregularities take place during the OMS operation in the month of Ramadan.

Besides, the Directorate of Food has been directed to appointing the necessary number of dealers and strengthening the monitoring system in order to overcome the crisis.

A senior official of the Directorate of Food told The New Nation yesterday that allocation of rice under the coming OMS would be raised further if there were more demand.

He said the ministry concerned knows how much rice would be given to the BDR for selling under the coming OMS. "We'll hand over the rice instantly after receiving order from the Ministry of Food," the official said.

On the other hand, a high official of the BDR told The New Nation yesterday that they had taken all preparations for selling rice under the government's OMS programme. "We'll start selling rice from August 15 whether we receive rice from the government or not," the official said.

The BDR has already purchased 2,000 tonnes of rice from the Senakalyan authorities. "With this rice we want to start our rice selling programme during the month of Ramadan," he said.