The government has decided to extend the Open Market Sale (OMS) programme for 10 more days in 36 districts and five city corporations of the country.
The OMS programme in Dhaka City Corporation area ended yesterday, but direct sale of rice from food directorate trucks will continue till May 10, food directorate officials said.
Director General of the Food Directorate Pias Costa told The Daily Star yesterday that the OMS programme would remain open three days a week in the districts where the price of a kilogram of coarse rice remains above Tk 33.
He said that the programme is likely to resume from May 4 or 5 and some areas will get OMS for three days a week and others for four days.
The decision to extend the government programme was taken yesterday following information from the 64 deputy commissioners (DCs) on the situation, Costa said. He added that further decision on extension of OMS will be taken after May 10.
Sylhet City Corporation will be out of the purview of the extension.
The government launched the nationwide OMS programme on January 9 to sell rice at the subsidised rate of Tk 25 per kg in the wake of unprecedented price hike of rice in the country.
Meanwhile, the price of Boro rice has continued its fall in wholesale markets.
Fine Boro rice including Miniket, BR-28 and Parija, released into the market recently, which sold at Tk 1320 - 1550 per maund two weeks ago, is selling for Tk 1200 - 1450 per maund at present.
The price of coarse rice has remained stable over the last three weeks.