Chattogram: The Food Department has initiated the sale of rice in the open market as a measure to stabilize the rice market. The Open Market Sale (OMS) program, initially launched in 11 wards of the city, will now extend to 29 more wards starting tomorrow, Monday.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Md. Fakhrul Alam, the district Food Controller, stated that the OMS program commenced on July 1. On its inaugural day, 11 out of 12 dealers received allocations of rice and flour. The dealers for the newly added 29 wards have now been finalized, with allocations made in their favor. Consequently, rice and wheat will be available at fair prices across a total of 40 wards beginning tomorrow.
Food officials detailed that each dealer is set to receive one ton of rice and one ton of flour, with rice priced at TK 30 per kg and flour at TK 24 per kg for consumers. This initiative followed a previous attempt by the Food Department on November 4 of last year to recruit dealers for OMS in 41 city wards, which resulted in 420 applications.
However, the recruitment process faced legal challenges when the dealers filed a case in the High Court. Allegations emerged against the dealer recruitment committee and Chattogram Divisional Commissioner regarding unethical benefits obtained through collaboration with contractors and food inspectors linked to the former Awami League government. As a result, the dealer recruitment process was suspended until June 30 by court order. After addressing these recruitment issues, the Food Department appointed dealers in an additional 29 wards on June 26.
Complaints of unethical benefits received by food inspectors during the recruitment process have been formally lodged with the dealer appointment committee convener and the Chattogram Divisional Commissioner. Meanwhile, discussions and criticisms have emerged about the political influence exerted by two food inspectors during the tenure of the ousted Awami League government. Employees and dealers have accused this syndicate of continuing its influence over the district food department, particularly during the dealer appointment process.