Manikganj people waiting in long OMS queues due to subsidised flour shortage

 
People in Manikganj are facing considerable hardship while trying to purchase flour at subsidised prices under the Open Market Sale (OMS) programme. Despite standing in long queues for hours, many are returning home empty-handed due to inadequate allocations compared to the growing demand. At a time when the cost of living continues to rise, the shortage has added to the worries of low-income families.

During a ground visit on Monday, long queues of men and women were seen at different OMS distribution points in Saturia Upazila. People began gathering early in the morning in the hope of purchasing subsidised flour. While some expressed relief after managing to buy flour at the government-fixed price, many others were left disappointed.

Hazera Begum, a resident of Char Saturia, expressed her satisfaction after waiting in the queue. "I have bought five kilograms of flour for Tk 120. This is a great help for poor people like us. I appreciate the government's initiative," she said.

However, not everyone was fortunate enough to receive the subsidised flour. Kajoli, a 65-year-old woman from Radhanagar, waited in the queue for nearly two hours but ultimately failed to purchase any flour as the allocated stock ran out. Disappointed, she had to return home empty-handed. Like her, many others were seen leaving the distribution points without getting the essential commodity.

Dealers involved in operating the OMS programme at the field level said the existing allocation was insufficient to meet local demand.
Md. Mohiuddin Reza, proprietor of Reza Enterprise at Char Saturia, said his distribution point received an allocation of one tonne (1,000 kilograms) of flour daily. 

This allowed him to distribute five kilograms of flour each to 200 people at subsidised prices.

"However, the number of people queuing up is much higher than that. Many people at the back of the queue have to return empty-handed without getting any flour," he said, urging the authorities to increase the daily allocation promptly to ease public suffering.

Manikganj District Food Controller Khandaker Nazmus Sakib said, "The OMS programme was providing economic relief to marginalised and low-income people across the district by allowing them to purchase rice and flour at affordable prices."

He said the district administration and the food department were regularly monitoring the programme to ensure transparency in its implementation. He also added that adequate stocks of food grains had been maintained in government food warehouses to deal with any emergency situation.

Authorities concerned believe that unless the allocation of flour under the OMS programme is increased promptly, the difficulties faced by low-income people in Manikganj may continue to worsen.