Poor return empty-handed as OMS ata sold on black market

People belonging to low-income group come to OMS outlets in Lalmonirhat town to purchase ata (coarse flour) at fair price, but they often return empty handed. The photo shows such an outlet at Banbhasa intersection in the town. Photo: Star

The government authorised dealers in the district town are allegedly selling ata (coarse flour) meant for Open Market Sale (OMS) on the black market, depriving the people of the low-income group of the item at fair price.
Locals alleged that the authorities concerned here were aware of the malpractice, but they did not take any steps against the dealers for committing such criminal offence with the connivance of some millers and food department staff.
Refuting the allegation against some food department staff, district Food Controller Zohurul Haque said OMS dealers and millers were involved in the wrongdoing.
Admitting to his failure to take action against the dishonest dealers, the food official said all the 12 dealers were appointed on political consideration. "So, they don't care the monitoring team and its drive", he added.
Sources in the district food department said the government launched open market sale of ata in the district in June last year and each of the 12 dealers gets 1,000 kg ata every day to sell it at the outlets.
An official of the local food department, seeking anonymity, said each OMS dealer has been selling 200 to 300 kg ata every day since launching of the programme. They sell rest of the allotted ata on the black market at the mill gate, he alleged.
One kg ata at OMS outlets is priced Tk 20, but the dealers sell it at Tk 27-28 on the black market, the official added.
Low-income people come to purchase ata at govt fixed rate but they often return home empty handed as OMS dealers keep the outlets closed or stop its sale, saying that the stocks have been exhausted.
Yunus Ali, 42, a resident of College Road area in the town alleged that he went to an OMS outlet at College Bazar Wednesday noon to purchase ata, but returned without the item there as the outlet remained closed.
He then went to an outlet at Airport Road but did not get ata as the dealer said that he had already sold out the stocks of the day.
“I went to the OMS outlet at Saptana Road to purchase 5 kgs of ata on Wednesday morning, but I got only one kg as the dealer refused to sale the required amount to me,” said housewife Monowara Begum.