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The government has started selling rice at a subsidised rate of Tk 30 per kg under the additional Open Market Sale (OMS) programme in 419 upazilas to stabilise rice prices and provide price support to people.
Under the programme, one metric tonne of rice will be distributed in each upazila.
The additional OMS programme will operate alongside the regular OMS, UNB reported citing a PID handout.
Currently, under the regular OMS programme, 1,417.5 metric tonnes of flour (Tk 24 per kg for loose flour and Tk 55 for a 2-kg packet) and 1,175 metric tonnes of rice per day are sold in 1,081 centres in 12 city corporations, 52 district municipal areas, 15 labour-intensive upazilas, and five labour-intensive municipalities at subsidised rates of Tk 30 per kilogram.
Although there is adequate food stock, some areas of the country have recently seen a sporadic rise in the price of fine rice, it said.
The Ministry of Food has instructed regular market monitoring in these areas and necessary legal actions to prevent price hikes.