Many return empty-handed

Many of the consumers, mostly from the low and fixed-income groups, have been returning home empty-handed from the Open Market Sale (OMS) outlets in Lalmonirhat town due to insufficient supply of rice against its ongoing rising demand.

A large number of people are seen standing in queues in front of the OMS outlets to buy rice at Tk 10 per kg every day.

The government started the OMS through 12 selected dealers in the town from Sunday, allocating each of the dealers a maximum of 834 kg of rice per day.

"After standing in queue for couple of hours today I had to return home empty-handed as the outlet ran out of stock very fast," said Meherun Begum, 44, wife of a rickshaw puller in College Bazar area.

Abdul Matin, an OMS dealer in College Bazar area, said they are receiving only 834 kg of rice every day which is not sufficient.

Another OMS dealer Abdul Rahim said due to the Coronavirus pandemic they are witnessing a huge demand of OMS rice in the recent days.

Sadar Upazila Food Controller (UFC) Ayub Ali said a total of 10 tonnes of rice is being sold at 12 OMS outlets in the town every day and three days in a week.