Chattogram: The Food Department has initiated a program to sell rice in the open market, aiming to stabilize fluctuating rice prices.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Open Market Sale (OMS) program, which initially commenced in 11 wards of the city, will now expand to provide fair-priced rice and flour in 29 additional wards starting tomorrow, Monday.
Md. Fakhrul Alam, the district Food Controller, stated that the OMS program began on July 1, with 11 out of 12 dealers receiving their rice and flour allocations on the first day. The process for appointing dealers in the newly nominated 29 wards has been finalized, and allocations have been made accordingly. This expansion means that rice and wheat will be available at fair prices in a total of 40 wards from Monday.
Food officials have detailed that each dealer will be allocated one ton of rice and one ton of flour, which they will sell to consumers at TK 30 per kg for rice and TK 24 per kg for flour. The initiative follows a previous attempt on November 4 of last year, when the Food Department began recruiting dealers for OMS in 41 city wards. This process saw 420 applications, with a subsequent legal case filed in the High Court contesting the dealer recruitment process.
Complications arose when several applications alleged unethical benefits were being received in collusion with a syndicate of contractors and food inspectors under the former Awami League government. The court halted the dealer recruitment process until June 30. However, after resolving these issues, the Food Department successfully appointed dealers for the additional 29 wards on June 26.
Allegations persist regarding the receipt of unethical benefits by food inspectors during the dealer appointment process. A formal complaint has been lodged with the dealer appointment committee convener and the Chattogram Divisional Commissioner. There has been significant discussion and criticism about two food inspectors accused of wielding political influence under the previous Awami League government. Employees and dealers assert that this syndicate has long influenced the district food department, and it became active once more during the recent dealer appointment process.