OMS delivery strengthened: Tough stance on rice misappropriation

Published at 11:30 pm August 27th, 2021

In this photo: Sacks of rice stolen by public representatives later recovered by police Dhaka Tribune

At least 50,000 tons of rice distributed under the initiative in first month and a half of FY21-22

The Food Ministry has started increasing delivery of rice under the government’s subsidized open market sale (OMS) to ensure that the poor are not hard-pressed by high prices of coarse rice in the market during the protracted Covid-19 pandemic period.

Compared to only 4,000 tons of rice sold under OMS in the first one and half months of the 2020-21 financial year, the food ministry distributed 50,000 tons under OMS in the corresponding period of the current financial year (2021-22).

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Besides, the ministry has also taken a zero-tolerance policy for misappropriation of rice delivered under OMS.

After a government-appointed dealer in Dhaka’s Jurain area misappropriated 14 sacks of rice (weighing 700 kg) last week, the ministry served a show-cause to one of its food inspectors and filed a case against the dealer concerned.

The dealer’s security deposit against the OMS dealership was also forfeited.