Staff reporter:
A special Open Market Sale (OMS) programme began yesterday to reduce food expenses for readymade garment (RMG) workers and ensure access to rice at affordable prices.
Under the programme, each worker can purchase up to 10 kilogrammes of rice per month at Tk 30 per kg.
On the first day of the programme, RMG workers turned up at designated truck-sale points from the morning to collect rice. They purchased rice in an orderly manner by showing their respective factory identity cards and signing the master rolls.
The initiative is part of the BNP’s election manifesto commitment to ensure social protection for marginalised and low-income people and make financial assistance and essential food items more accessible to them.
Making food more accessible to low-income people and taking effective measures to reduce their living costs are among the key priorities of the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. As part of these efforts, the special OMS programme has been introduced for RMG workers.
Initially, rice is being sold through 66 truck-sale points in different areas of Dhaka metropolitan city, Savar, Dhamrai, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Chattogram.
A total of 330 tonnes of rice will be sold every Friday, with each truck carrying five tonnes.
The programme will continue until further instructions, according to the Ministry of Food.
Of the total allocation, 30 tonnes are being sold through six trucks in Dhaka metropolitan city, 40 tonnes through eight trucks in Savar, 10 tonnes through two trucks in Dhamrai, 150 tonnes through 30 trucks in Gazipur, 50 tonnes through 10 trucks in Narayanganj and 50 tonnes through 10 trucks in Chattogram.
The sales will be conducted in two shifts every Friday. The first shift will run from 10:00am to 12:30pm and the second from 2:30pm to 5:00pm. Sales will depend on the availability of stocks.
The Ministry of Food said RMG workers concerned would be able to collect rice under the programme by showing their factory identity cards and signing the master rolls.
The programme is being implemented under the overall management of the Directorate General of Food under the Ministry of Food.
Separate monitoring teams from the ministry and the Directorate General of Food are visiting and supervising the activities to ensure transparency, accountability and proper implementation. Besides, one monitoring officer has been assigned to each truck.
The authorities concerned expect that the programme will help reduce food expenses for RMG workers and play a positive role in ensuring their food security.
