Rice Sales at 30 Taka per Kg Start for Garment Workers

The government has started an Open Market Sale (OMS) program for garment workers. It aims to cut food costs and give workers basic food at fair prices. The program began yesterday, Friday. Each garment worker can buy up to 10 kg of rice per month at 30 taka per kg.

Helping low income and weaker groups is a key promise in the BNP election manifesto. The government led by Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman started this program to keep that promise. Officials say it will ease the food costs of workers who face rising prices.

The Food Ministry says sales will first take place through 66 truck sales points. These are in Dhaka city, Savar, Dhamrai, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Chattogram. Each truck will carry five metric tons of rice every Friday. The target is 330 metric tons in total, and the program will continue until further notice.

Dhaka city will have six trucks selling 30 metric tons. Savar will have eight trucks selling 40 metric tons. Dhamrai will have two trucks selling 10 metric tons. Gazipur will have 30 trucks selling 150 metric tons. Narayanganj and Chattogram will each have 10 trucks selling 50 metric tons.

Sales will run in two rounds every Friday. The first round is from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. The second round is from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm. Sales will continue only while stock lasts.

Workers must show their factory identity cards. They must also sign the master roll of their factory when they take the rice. This step helps the rice reach real garment workers. The Directorate of Food under the Food Ministry runs the program.

The Food Ministry and the Directorate of Food have formed separate monitoring teams. These teams visit the sites and check the work. One supervising officer also stays at each truck. On the first day, garment workers gathered at the sales points from early morning. They showed their cards, signed the master roll and took their rice in an orderly way.