Staff Reporter :
Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumdar on Saturday said the government will roll out Open Market Sale (OMS) and food-friendly programs starting next month, aiming to stabilize the rice market amid a concerning upward trend in prices.
He made the announcement while speaking as the chief guest at a view-exchange meeting held at the Circuit House in Jashore.
According to the adviser, the government has successfully completed its seasonal procurement of both paddy and rice in line with national demand projections. With adequate public stocks now in place, he expressed optimism that the launch of OMS and food-friendly initiatives will help curb price volatility and bring relief to lower- and middle-income households that have been hit hard by rising food costs.
“The necessary procurement has been completed, and the government is fully prepared to intervene in the market. Once OMS and food-friendly programs are activated, we expect rice prices to stabilize and downward corrections to follow,” Majumdar said.
The view-exchange meeting, which focused on food grain procurement, stock status, and pricing mechanisms in the Khulna division, was chaired by Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md. Firoz Sarkar. Among the key participants were Food Secretary Md. Masudul Hasan, Khulna Divisional Food Officer Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, Jashore Deputy Commissioner Md. Azaharul Islam, and senior food officials from all 10 districts of the division.
Addressing concerns over market irregularities, the adviser informed the gathering that the government had already taken action against syndicate-driven manipulation in major rice-trading hubs such as Naogaon and Kushtia. These actions were crucial, he noted, in breaking artificial supply shortages and inflated pricing structures orchestrated by unscrupulous traders.
In recent months, rice prices have seen a notable rise across the country, with coarse rice varieties selling at Tk 50-54 per kg and finer varieties at Tk 65-72 per kg-marking a 10-15% increase compared to the same period last year. Market insiders attribute the surge to a mix of factors, including hoarding by millers, transportation costs, and delayed supply chain adjustments following harvests.
The trend has sparked concern among fixed-income and low-income groups, for whom rice remains a dietary staple.
To counteract these pressures, the government plans to reach approximately 5.3 million low-income families through its OMS and food-friendly initiatives. Under these programs, rice will be sold at subsidized rates-often between Tk 15 and Tk 30 per kg-to ensure food access for the most vulnerable segments of society.
The adviser reiterated the government’s commitment to food security and market stabilization. “The impact of our measures will be visible within weeks of implementation. The government stands ready to intervene further if needed,” he concluded.
