CHATTOGRAM, July 6, 2025 (BSS) - The Food Department has launched the sale of rice in the open market to stabilize the rice market. 

The OMS program initially launched in 11 wards of the city under a special OMS program will now expand to offer fair-priced rice and flour in 29 more wards from tomorrow, Monday.

Md. Fakhrul Alam, district Food Controller of the District Food Department said that the OMS program began on July 1. On the first day, 11 out of 12 dealers received rice and flour allocation. 

He mentioned that the dealers for the initially nominated 29 wards have been finalized and allocation has been made in their names. Rice and wheat will be sold at fair prices in a total of 40 wards starting tomorrow, Monday. 

Food officials explained that each dealer will receive one ton of rice and one ton of flour. The dealers will sell rice to consumers at TK 30 per kg and flour at TK 24 per kg. It was reported that on November 4 of last year, the Food Department initiated the recruitment of dealers for open market sales (OMS) in 41 wards of the city. 

A total of 420 applications were submitted and the dealers at that time filed a case in the High Court against the dealer recruitment process.
 
Additionally, several applications were submitted to the convener of the dealer recruitment committee and the Chattogram Divisional Commissioner on charges of receiving unethical benefits in collusion with a syndicate of contractors and food inspectors appointed by the ousted Awami League government. 

Later, the dealer recruitment process was halted until June 30 by court order. After resolving the complications in dealer appointment process, the Food Department appointed dealers in 29 more wards in the city on June 26. 

There have been allegations of unethical benefits received by investigating officers (food inspectors) during the dealer appointment process. A written complaint has been submitted to the convener of the dealer appointment committee and the Chattogram Divisional Commissioner regarding the issue.

Meanwhile, there has been a lot of discussion and criticism about the two food inspectors who exerted political influence during the time of the fallen Awami League government. Two employees and several dealers have claimed that this syndicate has been exerting influence on the district food department under the ousted Awami League for a long time. The syndicate has become active again during the dealer appointment process.