The government is launching a special Open Market Sale (OMS) programme for workers employed in the readymade garment (RMG) industry, under which each worker will be able to purchase up to 10 kilograms of rice at Tk30 per kg per month. According to the Ministry of Food, the initiative will begin Friday, with rice sold from trucks in Dhaka metropolitan area and other areas of Dhaka district, Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Chattogram metropolitan area and other areas of Chattogram district.
Sales schedule and eligibility
Rice will be sold from trucks every Friday in two shifts: from 10:00am to 12:30pm and from 2:30pm to 5:00pm, according to the Ministry of Food. The programme will continue subject to the availability of rice stock.Workers must present their identity cards issued by their respective garment factories to purchase rice. Additionally, sales will be recorded by taking workers' signatures on the master roll of the concerned establishments. This mechanism is designed to ensure that only genuine RMG workers benefit from the subsidy.
Context and significance
The RMG sector is Bangladesh's primary export earner, employing a vast workforce. With rising rice prices in the open market, the cost of living for these low-income workers has increased significantly. The special OMS programme is seen as an initiative by the government to ensure food security for this vital segment of the workforce.The programme is initially being rolled out in the industrial belts of Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Chattogram. There is potential for expansion to other industrial areas across the country in the future. The Ministry of Food has stated that necessary measures have been taken for the successful implementation of the programme.
