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.

The government has decided to procure 50,000 metric tonnes of non-basmati parboiled rice and 80,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser. The decision was taken at a meeting of Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase on Monday (December 15, 2025) at the Secretariat with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair. The Ministry of Food will procure 50,000 metric tonnes of rice at a cost of Tk 214.70 crore. India-based M/S Bagadiya Brothers Private Ltd has been selected as the supplier. Officials said the rice import would help maintain adequate public food stocks and contribute to stabilising prices in the domestic market. Govt happy with macroeconomic stability despite sectoral challenges: Salehuddin The purchase committee also recommended approval of two proposals placed by the Ministry of Industries to import a total of 80,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser from Saudi Arabia. Under the proposals, 40,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser will be imported as the 12th lot and another 40,000 metric tonnes as the 13th lot from SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company at a unit price of US$413.46 per metric tonne. The committee further recommended approval of a proposal to construct a fertiliser buffer warehouse in Naogaon with a capacity of 25,000 metric tonnes at an estimated cost of Tk 54.70 crore to improve storage and distribution. Another proposal to construct a fertiliser buffer warehouse in Bogura with a capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes at an estimated cost of Tk 59.28 crore was also recommended for approval. Officials said the fertiliser imports and storage facilities would help ensure uninterrupted supply during peak farming seasons. Safe, quality shrimp production must be prioritised: Adviser Farida In addition, the meeting recommended approval of several major infrastructure procurement proposals aimed at improving roads, bridges and local infrastructure across the country. Among them is a World Bank-supported project under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), with a contract value of Tk 363 crore. The committee also cleared multiple road development proposals under the Road Transport and Highways Division, including four-lane upgrading of regional highways in Cumilla, Lakshmipur and Noakhali, as well as the construction of the Rabnabad Bridge over the Rabnabad River in Patuakhali. Officials said the approved projects would enhance connectivity, improve logistics and support regional economic growth. Read more: Govt to procure 50,000 mt non-Basmati parboiled rice, 10,000 mt lentil

The government has decided to import 550,000 metric tons of rice to give a boost to the country’s current food stock.

The government will procure a total of 8.50 lakh metric tonnes of food grains from the marginal farmers across the country in the upcoming Aman season.

The Ministry of Food and the World Food Programme on Monday formalised the inclusion of fortified rice in the Open Market Sales (OMS) which will directly benefit about 720,000 people in 144,000 households.  Richard Ragan, Country Represent

The Ministry of Food has formed seven monitoring committees to keep rice prices stable in the market and prevent hike in prices through manipulation .