Our Correspondent :
Rice prices have gone up in Ramgarh market. Very low quality rice and flour are being sold at 45 and 30 taka per kg in the market. In this situation, low-income people are running to the dealers selling rice and flour in the open market (OMS) at a fair price under the Department of Food. So shoppers are also seen standing in long lines at OMS stores to buy rice and flour. Long queue has been seen in front of 3 dealer shops in Ramgarh municipal area.
Md. Ashaduzzaman Bhuiyan, Officer in charge of Ramgarh LSD, said to ensure food security, the government has started simultaneous sale of rice and flour in the open market (OMS) at three points in Ramgarh municipal area from July 25 at Sonipolbazar, Ramgarh bazar and Cinema Hal bazaar areas. Standing in a long line, low-income people are buying these two food products. According to the office of the Upazila food Controller, 1,500 kg of rice and 1,000 kg of flour are being distributed to each dealer for the OMS program every day except Friday. This activity will continue till 7th August. Rice is being sold at Tk. 30 per kg and flour at Tk. 18 per kg. Anyone can buy five kg of rice or flour per person from OMS shop.
Md. Shah Alam, dealer of OMS in Cinema Hal market area, said the quality of rice and flour is very good. Low-income people are reluctant to buy rice and flour at higher prices in the market. So they are crowding to the OMS dealer.
The demand is too high. Sales start at 10 am. The sale is ending within a few hours of the start. Demand is five times higher than allocation. He said it was important to increase the allocation to cope with the pressure. At this time it is not possible to maintain social distance.
Kazol Rani Tripura, who came to the center to buy rice flour, said the price of rice in the market is high. Rice and flour are available here at a slightly lower price. So I stood in line.
