TDS Desk:

A three-month special OMS (open market sale) program has been initiated in the flood-affected areas, where rice will be sold at Tk30 per kg and wheat at Tk24 per kg.

The Ministry of Food launched this special OMS program at the municipal/union level to supply rice and flour at affordable prices in response to the severe floods in the Chattogram and Sylhet divisions affecting 14 districts.

During a press conference at the conference room of the Ministry of Food, Ismail Hossain, the ministry’s secretary, informed the media about the country’s overall food situation, including internal food collection and stock situation, as well as the government’s food assistance activities in the flood-affected districts.

He said the special OMS will be implemented in 230 centres in the flood-hit districts, each selling one ton of rice and one metric ton of flour daily.

During September, October, and November 2024, a total of 14,490 metric tons of rice and 14,490 metric tons of flour will be sold, Ismail said.

He said anyone in the flood-affected areas can avail of this service.

During these three months, Tk41.12 crore for rice and Tk49.55 crore for flour, totalling Tk90.68 crore, will be provided as a food subsidy by the Ministry of Food.