Dhaka:The government is set to initiate a special Open Market Sale (OMS) program aimed at assisting workers in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector by enabling them to purchase rice at reduced prices. This initiative is designed to alleviate the financial burden of food expenses for these workers.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the program will commence on November 13, with rice being sold via truck sales in the Dhaka metropolitan area, other parts of Dhaka district, Gazipur, Narayanganj, the Chattogram metropolitan area, and other parts of Chattogram district. Under this scheme, each RMG worker can buy up to 10 kg of rice monthly at a rate of Tk 30 per kg.
The Ministry of Food has stated that rice will be available from trucks every Friday between 1000 am and 1230 pm, and again from 230 pm to 500 pm, depending on availability. Workers must present their garment factory identity cards to purchase rice, and sales will be recorded through their signatures on the master rolls of their respective establishments.
The Directorate General of Food under the Ministry of Food will manage the program, with separate monitoring teams established by the ministry and the directorate to ensure transparency and proper implementation. This special initiative for RMG workers forms part of the government's ongoing effort to operate subsidized OMS programs, facilitating food access for low-income individuals and providing price support aligned with their purchasing capacity.