Flour for the poor sold in black market
Allege low-income people in Cox's Bazar
Flour meant for sale at susidised price to the low-income people is allegedly being sold in the open market in Sadar upazila.
Locals alleged that out of 78 tonnes of flour allotted to the Open Market Sale (OMS) dealers at 12 points in the district town, 50 tonnes were sold in the market in the last five weeks.
Sadar Upazila Food Controller Debashish Chakma said low-income group people suffer when the rice price is high in the market. When they struggle to buy rice the government sells flour at fair price under OMS programme, he said.
The district food department started the programme in the town through 12 dealers of 12 OMS centres on September 19.
In the first phase, 78 tonnes of flour was allocated for the purpose. The dealers withdrew the wheat from government silos on time. In the second phase, 203 tonnes have been allocated and 120 tonnes withdrawn.
The food controller said the government sold the flour at a subsidised price of Tk 14,000 per tonne to the dealers against the government stipulated price of Tk 29,037 per tonne. The flour that costs Tk 32 per kg in the market is being sold at OMS centres for only Tk 18 per kg. Four listed mills process the wheat and distribute the flour among the listed dealers.
The low-income people allege that the flour is being sold in the black market at excessive price instead of being sold in the OMS centres.
Buyers do not go to the OMS centres at Bus Terminal, Samity Para, Ghonar Para, Boiddha Ghona, Tekpara, Rumaliar Chhara, Alirjahal, Nuniachhara, Kolatoli, Jhautola, Bahar Chhara and Natun Bahar Chhara areas as many of them remain closed most of the time.
Sacks of flour are smuggled out of the OMS centres almost every night, the deprived beneficiaries said, adding that false names and thumb impressions are put in the register book and a false account of sales of flour is maintained.
Although monitoring of the OMS centres in the mornings and afternoons is the rule, no government official visits the centres. They make tally of the balance in the register book every few days and put their signatures.
Sanaullah, an OMS dealer, said sale of flour is less as the demand is low.
Asked about irregularities and lack of monitoring, the food controller said he has learnt about some irregularities and negligence by the dealers. He said the OMS centres are being monitored now. If allegations of irregularities are received they will be investigated and action will be taken.
Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Habibul Hasan said if the dealers at OMS centres sell the subsidised flour in the market, quick action will be taken against them.
The then UNO Md Noman Hossain conducted a drive and sealed two OMS centres in September.
It is alleged that a firm, which has a contract with the food department, sold most of the flour in the black market instead of distributing it among the OMS dealers. The dealers alleged that the small amount of flour given to them is of poor quality.