Our Correspondent :
Ignoring the sun and rain, there is a long line of people from different corners of Ishwardi town to buy rice and flour at low prices. In the current situation of non-payment, there is an outcry among the low-income people to get OMS rice and flour sold in the open market at the low price announced by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Children, teenagers, women and old people have lined up to buy this low-priced rice-flour. Many are returning empty-handed as they have not been able to buy rice flour at low prices even after standing in line for a long time. However, dealers say they are struggling to meet the demand of buyers.
According to the Upazila Food Office, rice and flour are being sold at low prices at four points (OMS) in Ishwardi town under the Food Department. Each dealer is being allotted 1,500 kg of rice and 1,000 kg of flour every day except weekly holidays. Each person can buy 5 kg of rice and 5 kg of flour from dealers. The price of rice has been fixed at Tk 30 per kg and flour at Tk 18 per kg.
It was seen on the spot on Thursday that coarse rice was being sold at Tk 45 to 50 per kg in the market, which is why they are rushing to OMS to buy rice at Tk 30 per kg and flour at Tk 18 per kg. Dealers started selling from 9 am, but many are waiting in line at 7 am.
Golapi Begum of Umirpur, who came to buy OMS rice and flour, said she had to return empty-handed as she had to stand in line for two days. So he came at 8 am today and stood in line.
