Dhaka: Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumdar announced that the government is set to distribute approximately 7 lakh tonnes of rice during the upcoming Ramadan. The initiative aims to stabilize rice prices, with distribution managed by various authorities, including the food ministry and the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), under the supervision of deputy commissioners.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the food adviser made these remarks while addressing journalists after a session of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium. As part of the food-friendly programme, the food ministry plans to distribute 3 lakh tonnes of rice over the next two months during the holy month of Ramadan.
The distribution effort will benefit 50 lakh families during March and April, with each family receiving 30 kg of rice at a cost of Taka 15 per kg. In addition, the TCB will distribute a total of 1 lakh tonnes of rice, divided equally between the two months.
The food ministry has also outlined plans to distribute another 1 lakh tonnes of rice over the same period through the open market sale (OMS), with 50 lakh tonnes allocated each month. Furthermore, during the Eid festival, 1 crore families will receive rice free of cost, with each family getting 10 kg of rice.
The Deputy Commissioner’s office and Dhaka Metropolitan Police will closely supervise the distribution at 15-20 locations throughout the city. The rice will be distributed through 122 centers and 70 trucks in the Dhaka Metropolitan area, under the oversight of the food department.