Staff Reporter :
A special open market sale (OMS) of coarse rice at Tk 10 per kg will be started from Sunday (April 5) in all cities and district towns.
The low-income level people can buy this rice on OMS on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The government has taken the initiative to ensure food for the urban poor amid the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus.
A circular issued on Thursday by the Food Ministry confirmed it.
According to the circular, a customer can buy up to 5 kg of rice by showing the National ID Card once a week.
One tonne of rice will be provided at every centre in Dhaka per day, while two tonnes of rice in every centre outside Dhaka.
Bangladesh on Tuesday extended a countrywide shutdown until April 11 to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the shutdown, announced on March 26 and due to end on April 4, was being extended for five more days.
The long shutdown pushed low-income group people in vulnerable situation. As most of their income source closed, they become helpless to provide their families daily needs.
In these circumstances, the government has started this initiative, to meet their daily needs partially.
