Staff Reporter :
The government has planned to distribute 36.61 lakh tonnes of food grains in the fiscal year 2025-26 under different social safety net programmes to shield low-income groups from the ongoing inflationary pressure.
According to the Food Ministry, the allocation includes 30.57 lakh tonnes of rice and 6.04 lakh tonnes of wheat. In the last fiscal year, 33.05 lakh tonnes were distributed, comprising 26.30 lakh tonnes of rice and 6.75 lakh tonnes of wheat.
The move comes as inflation rose to 8.55 percent in July, driven by both food and non-food items, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data shows. The contribution of rice to food inflation alone surged to 51.55 percent in July, up from 40 percent in May, according to the General Economics Division (GED). Medium and coarse rice accounted for most of the increase.
Under the plan, 2.40 lakh tonnes of rice and 3 lakh tonnes of wheat will be distributed through the Open Market Sale (OMS) programme. Currently, 1,066 OMS centres operate across city corporations and major municipalities, but officials admit demand far outstrips supply.
Against an annual requirement of 3.06 lakh tonnes of rice, only 66,000 tonnes are currently allocated. Similarly, while monthly wheat demands under OMS stand at 39,743 tonnes, the annual allocation is limited to 3 lakh tonnes-well below the required 4.77 lakh tonnes.
“The shortfall highlights the need to revisit allocation levels to meet actual consumption patterns,” said a Food Ministry official, adding that the matter may soon be placed for policy review.
The Directorate General of Food manages a series of distribution schemes under the ministry, including Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF), Vulnerable Group Development (VGD), Food for Work (FFW), and Test Relief (TR).
These programmes provide subsidised rice and wheat to rural and urban poor households during lean agricultural periods, religious festivals, and natural disasters. Under FFW and TR, food grains are distributed as payment for labour in rural infrastructure projects, helping communities build resilience while creating employment.
OMS trucks and dealers also sell rice and flour nationwide at subsidised rates to stabilise markets. During emergencies such as floods and cyclones, food grains are distributed directly to affected families.
Development partners, including the World Food Programme (WFP), support these efforts with technical assistance on targeting, capacity building, and supply chain management.
A senior Food Ministry official said the number of beneficiary families would rise to 55 lakh from 50 lakh previously, each entitled to 30 kilograms of rice per month at Tk 15 per kg. Distribution will take place in August, September, October, November, February, and March.
“We hope that the market price will come down as our storage position is satisfactory,” the official added.
