OMS flour in black market

Authorised dealers in Sadar upazila of the district are allegedly selling fifty percent allocated ata (flour) meant for Open Market Sale (OMS) on the black market, depriving the ultra poor beneficiaries of the programme.

Although some of the beneficiaries manage to purchase the ata from the government authorised outlets but a good number of people return empty handed everyday.

A number of beneficiaries alleged that one kg ata is priced Tk 17 at OMS outlets, but the dealers sell it at Tk 23-24 on the black market which earned them an additional profit of Tk 5-6 illegally.

Asgar Ali, 45, a day labourer of Nayarhat area in the town, alleged that he went to purchase ata at a OMS outlet yesterday noon but returned home empty handed as the dealer stopped its sales, saying that the stock for the day was finished.

Sources at the district food office said the government launched open market sale of ata through 11 OMS outlets in the district.

Each dealer gets 1,000 kg ata every day to sell it among the beneficiaries. Every card holder can buy 5 kg of the item.

Abdur Rahim, a dealer in Banbhasa area of the town, said as the ultra poor people gathered in front of his OMS outlet early in the morning every day. There is no scope to sale the item on the black market before everyone's eyes.

Besides, the officials of the district food department monitor the outlet throughout the day, he said.