DHAKA, May 19, 2024 (BSS) - Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder today warned
relevant officials of jail and fine if any negligence is found in the selling of products under the
open market sale (OMS) programme.
 
“If any negligence in the distribution of OMS products is found, dealers and the officials
concerned of the food department will be brought under accountability . . . Monitoring has
already been strengthened," he said while inaugurating the activities of the OMS sale at the
Ansar Camp bus stand in the city’s Mirpur area as the chief guest.
 
 The minister said if products, including, rice and flour, are distributed at fair price through OMS
cards, the tendency to purchase additional goods will be averted.
 
Using OMS cards will also help identify whether the cardholder is from another area, he said,
adding that it will also be possible to reach OMS goods to genuine needy people.
 
He said 14 lakh beneficiaries will be able to collect OMS rice and flour through this special card
and more beneficiaries will be brought under the purview of the programme in the days to come.
 
He instructed the officials concerned to remain alert so that no duplication takes place in the card
disbursement.
 
The food minister said farmers will show reluctance in production if they do not get fair price for
their agri-produces.
 
To encourage them, the government has increased the price of paddy by Taka 2 in the Boro
procurement season, Sadhan said.
 
Later, the minister handed over packets of rice and flour, sold under OMS, to the beneficiaries at
the centre.
 
With Director General of Directorate General of Food Md Shakhawat Hossain in the chair, the
programme was addressed, among others, by local lawmaker Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Food
Secretary Md Ismail Hossain and Additional Director General of Directorate General of Food
Md Abdullah Al Mamun.