OMS begins: Potatoes at Tk30, eggs Tk130 per dozen, onions Tk70
Vegetables are also being sold at 20-30% less than current rates in the capital’s kitchen markets
The government today (15 October) started selling 10 agricultural products including eggs, potatoes, onions and vegetables at affordable prices under its Open Market Sale (OMS) programme, to give some relief to the fixed-income group people, in 20 locations around Dhaka city.
Potatoes are being sold at Tk30 per kg, eggs at Tk130 per dozen, onions at Tk70 per kg and green papaya at Tk20 per kg while other vegetables being sold under different packages will cost customers at least 20-30% less than the current rates in the kitchen markets across the capital.
The Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) is buying these perishable items and vegetables directly from farmers and selling them at subsidised prices at the designated spots across the city as part of a pilot project under the OMS programme.
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The 20 spots, where these products would be sold on trucks, are Directorate General of Food headquarters (Khadya Bhaban), Manik Mia Avenue, Mirpur-10, Basabo, Basila, Rayerbazar, Rajarbagh, Mugda-North, Mugda-South, Polashi Intersection, Hazaribagh, Mohammadpur, Gabtoli, Mohakhali Bus Stand, Begunbari, Uttarkhan, Dakkhinkhan, Kamrangirchar, Rampura and Jigatola.
Commerce Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed and Agriculture Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury inaugurated the OMS programme at the Directorate General of Food office this morning.
Salehuddin sought cooperation from all to make the programme a success and said the government is making efforts to make available all products for the consumers at affordable prices.
Jahangir said they have taken this initiative in cooperation with the agriculture and food ministries so that they can provide eggs, potatoes, onions and vegetables to the people at affordable prices.
Commerce Secretary Md Selim Uddin, Agriculture Secretary Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian and DAM Director General Md Masud Karim, along with other officials, were also present at the event.
Agriculture ministry officials said that 20 locations have been fixed for selling the items for the next two weeks and if the pilot project is successful, the number of selling points and days would be increased.
The decision was made at a special meeting between the interim government's Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and several other advisers at the chief adviser's official residence on 13 October, according to the agriculture ministry.
DAM, Trading Corporation of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation are providing the necessary support to implement the decision.
