Queues of buyers to buy open market (OMS) rice at Chatmohar in Pabna are getting longer. Although the demand has increased, the allocation has been reduced to half, so some are able to buy rice, some are not. Those who are getting rice are returning home with a smile. Those who are unable to buy rice after standing in line for a long time due to running out are returning home empty handed with despair and pain.
This image has been observed in the sales centers of Chatmohar Municipal Headquarters. Even though flour is written in the banner, it is not being sold since there is no allocation of flour.
Although the rice is supposed to be sold 5 days a week from 9 am to 5 pm, the rice is running out in a short time without the dealers opening the sales center. Therefore, buyers are rushing to get rice at the rate of Tk 30 per kg.
It has been found that since September 1, OMS rice has been sold at the rate of 5 kg per head through four sales centers in Chatmohar Municipal Headquarters. Four dealers get 2 tonnes of rice. Even though 2 tons of rice were sold till October 16, the dealers are selling 1 ton of rice from October 17 due to reduction in allocation. As a result, half of the customers can now buy rice than before.
Around 11 o'clock on Wednesday (19 October) Chatmohar old market and Narikel Para sales center, many people are returning home empty-handed without getting rice. Many people from different unions also came to buy rice. Saleha, Majeda and Zilhaj of Relbazar area of Mulgram Union said that they are returning empty-handed without getting rice even though they spend 30 taka. At least 40 people, including John Koraiya and Bulbuli of Kharbaria village in Mathurapur Union, said that they also returned empty-handed after not getting rice. Seven to eight hundred such people from different areas of the upazila, including the municipality, are now returning home empty-handed.
Tarun Chandra Pal, dealer of Chatmohar Old Bazaar sales center and Khandkar Samsul Al Amin, dealer of Narikel Para sales center said that many people are returning without getting rice as the allocation of the OMS program conducted by the Food Department has been reduced by half. Even if we feel bad, there is nothing left to do. Increasing allocation will benefit poor people.
In this regard, Upazila Food Controller Jamal Uddin said, there is a huge demand for OMS rice. Fewer people are getting rice due to reduced allocation. If the allocation increases, more people will get rice.
