A special Open Market Sale (OMS) programme began today (13 November) to ease the cost of living for ready-made garment (RMG) workers by providing rice at a subsidised price of Tk30 per kg.
Under the programme, each eligible worker can purchase up to 10kg of rice a month for Tk300.
The initiative fulfils a commitment in the BNP’s election manifesto to strengthen social protection for marginalised and low-income people and make essential food items more affordable.
Reducing living costs and improving access to food for low-income households are among the priorities of the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Initially, rice is being sold through 66 designated truck-sale points across Dhaka metropolitan city, Savar, Dhamrai, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Chattogram.
On the first day, workers began gathering at the designated sales points in the morning to collect rice. They purchased it in an orderly manner by showing their factory identity cards and signing the master rolls.
A total of 330 tonnes of rice will be sold every Friday through 66 trucks, each carrying five tonnes. The programme will continue until further instructions, according to the Ministry of Food.
Of the weekly allocation, 30 tonnes are being sold through six trucks in Dhaka 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.
Sales will take place in two shifts every Friday — from 10am to 12:30pm and from 2:30pm to 5pm — subject to stock availability.
The programme is being implemented by the Directorate General of Food under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Food.
Separate monitoring teams from the ministry and the Directorate General of Food are overseeing the operations to ensure transparency and accountability. Each truck has also been assigned a monitoring officer.
The authorities expect the initiative to reduce food expenses for RMG workers and strengthen their food security.
The Food Directorate has launched the subsidised rice sales programme in Gazipur’s industrial areas, with Gazipur-2 MP M Manjurul Karim Rony inaugurating the initiative in Tongi on Friday.
On the first day, workers queued up from the morning to collect rice in an orderly manner. Each eligible worker received 10kg for Tk300, at Tk30 per kg.
Workers welcomed the opportunity to purchase rice at a lower price. However, citing prevailing market conditions, they also called for the inclusion of lentils, edible oil, salt and flour in the programme.
Under the OMS initiative, 40 tonnes of rice have been allocated weekly for garment workers in Tongi through eight sales points, with five tonnes assigned to each point. This amounts to 160 tonnes a month.
On the first day, rice was also distributed among workers of Sparrow Apparels in the Tin Sarak area of Gazipur city.
Of the factory’s 5,000 workers, 500 were selected in the first phase following verification to receive the benefit.
Food department officials said 30 garment factories in Gazipur city had initially been included in the programme. The number of participating factories and beneficiary workers would be expanded gradually.
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