The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The selling of rice under Open Market Sale (OMS) began in the capital and other areas of the country yesterday.

People of limited income group were seen gathering before the OMS shops and trucks to buy rice at Tk 28 per kg at different locations in the capital.

We are happy of the government decision for reintroducing of the OMS of rice before the start of the holy month of Ramzan, they said.

They further said they used to buy rice at Tk 33 to Tk 34 per kg after the closure of OMS programme. "I had to spend a big chunk of my income for the purchase of rice. Now I will be able to save some money," said Abdus Sattrar, a rickshaw puller at Fakirapool Bazar.

The OMS of rice could help stabilise the markets price within the next couple of weeks, said wholesalers at Moulvi Bazar in the city yesterday.

They said the fall in the price of rice in the international market along with good harvest of Aush paddy in the northern districts and sale of rice under OMS across the country would make rice markets stable in the coming months.

They said the rice mills owners in the northern districts have been maintaining smooth supply of rice to the wholesale markets that will help push down its price.

In recent days the rice prices in the wholesale markets have decreased by Tk 2 to Tk 3 per kg, but the retail markets are yet to witness that price fall.

Timely supply of required quality seeds, fertilizer and other agriculture inputs to the farmers resulted in good production of Aush paddy in the northern districts of the country and it would definitely help reduction of rice price, said an high official of Department of Agriculture Extension.