United News of Bangladesh

The government has started selling rice at a subsidised rate of Tk 30 per kg under the additional Open Market Sale (OMS) programme in 419 upazilas to stabilise rice prices and provide price support to people. Under the programme, one metric tonnes of rice will be distributed in each upazila. Read more: CAB seeks govt action to rein in LPG, sugar, edible oil prices The additional OMS programme will operate alongside the regular OMS, said a PID handout. Currently, under the regular OMS programme, 1,417.5 metric tonnes of flour (Tk 24 per kg for loose flour and Tk 55 for a 2-kg packet) and 1,175 metric tonnes of rice per day are sold in 1,081 centers in  12 city corporations, 52 district municipal areas, 15 labour-intensive upazilas, and five labour-intensive municipalities at subsidised rates of Tk 30 per kilogram. Although there is adequate food stock, some areas of the country have recently seen a sporadic rise in the price of fine rice, it said. Read more: Rice prices keep food inflation high despite slight easing in Nov: GED The Ministry of Food has instructed regular market monitoring in these areas and necessary legal actions to prevent price hikes.