Special OMS begins for garment workers

A special Open Market Sale (OMS) programme selling rice at Tk30 per kilogram to garment workers began in several industrial areas on Friday, providing subsidised food support to low-income workers.

Under the programme, each eligible garment worker can purchase up to 10kg of rice per month at the subsidised rate.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Food, rice is being sold through 66 mobile trucks in Dhaka, Savar, Dhamrai, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Chattogram.

Each truck has been allocated five tonnes of rice, taking the total weekly allocation to 330 tonnes.

Of the total allocation, 30 tonnes are being distributed through six trucks in Dhaka city, 40 tonnes through eight trucks in Savar, 10 tonnes through two trucks in Dhamrai, 150 tonnes through 30 trucks in Gazipur, 50 tonnes through 10 trucks in Narayanganj and another 50 tonnes through 10 trucks in Chattogram.

The programme will run every Friday in two shifts. The first shift is from 10am to 12:30pm, while the second runs from 2:30pm to 5pm, subject to the availability of rice.

Workers can purchase rice by presenting identity cards issued by their respective garment factories and signing the relevant master rolls.

On the opening day, garment workers were seen gathering at designated truck sales points from the morning. They collected rice in an orderly manner after completing the required verification procedures.

The initiative has been introduced in line with the government’s commitment to making essential commodities affordable and strengthening social protection for low-income communities.

The Directorate General of Food is implementing the programme under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Food. 

Separate monitoring teams from the ministry and the directorate are overseeing the distribution to ensure transparency and accountability. One monitoring officer has also been assigned to each truck.

The programme will continue until further notice, the ministry said.