Open market sale of rice begins today

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The government launches its countrywide open market sales (OMS) of rice today at the rate of Tk 25 per kilogram for one month amid unprecedented hike of rice prices in the recent times.

Meanwhile, a three-member delegation led by Food and Disaster Management Secretary Ayub Miah, is leaving for India today to discuss import of 5 lakh tonnes of rice.

Joint Secretary Shafiqul Islam and Director of Food Directorate Elahi Dad Khan are the other members of the delegation, which will discuss the price and delivery system of the rice to be imported.

India had offered exporting 5 lakh tonnes of rice to Bangladesh considering the damage of crops caused by the recent cyclone in Bangladesh, though it had restrictions on export to other countries.

The rice under the OMS programme will be sold through a total of 1,990 dealers located at the city corporation and municipality areas and at upazila sadars, sources at the Directorate of Food said yesterday.

The dealers will buy rice at the rate of Tk 24 per kilogram (kg) from the government.

A total of 25,372 tonnes of rice has been allocated for the purpose, they said, adding that each dealer will get 1,700 kg every four days.

As per the OMS rules, each customer can buy a maximum of 3 kg of rice every day.

Meanwhile, prices of all varieties of rice came down by Tk 0.5 to Tk 1 per kg in the retail markets yesterday.

However, the price is still very high and beyond the purchase capacity of the commoners.

A Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) report said coarse rice of various varieties was selling at Tk 30 to Tk 35 yesterday.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) yesterday opened 10 new outlets increasing its number of total outlets to 50 for sales of rice in the capital, said a BDR press release.

The new outlets are located at De Plaza Market at Gabtoli, Halim Community Centre at Tejgaon, Katra Community Centre at Lalbagh, Turag Housing Buriganga

Filling Station (Beribadh) at Mohammadpur, Sher-e-Bangla Community Centre at Agargaon, Shah Ali Mazar at Mirpur, Paikpara, Padma Garments at Mirpur, Nikunja-2 Park at Uttara, Hazi Camp near Airport and Banani Park at Banani.

The outlets will remain open every day from 8:00am to 5:30pm, except on Monday. BDR will also sell highest 3 kg of rice to an individual at the rate of Tk 25 per kg.

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