While the queue of people behind open market sale (OMS) trucks of the food ministry continues to remain fairly long, food grain distribution by the ministry was said to have dropped 19 per cent year-on-year in the first four months of the current fiscal year. 

As the Covid-induced lockdown was taking a heavy toll on the poor back in 2020, the food directorate sold rice at subsidised rates under special and regular Open Market Sale programmes across the country.

Following a blame game over volatility in the rice market, the government and rice traders reached some decisions yesterday to help

With no let-up in the spiraling rice price, the government has planned to expand Open Market Sale of subsidised foodgrains to the upazilas across the country.