By AKM Rashed Shahriar

DHAKA, June 14, 2026 (BSS) - The government has distributed 1,502,393 metric tons of rice under the Open Market Sale (OMS) and Food-Friendly Programme (FFP) during the current 2025-2026 fiscal year, according to Food Ministry officials.

Generally rice and flour are distributed among consumers at subsidized prices under OMS, OMS-TCB, and the Food-Friendly Programme.

Of the 2,976 dealers appointed nationwide, 1,925 dealers are designated for rice sales and 1,091 dealers for flour sales. 

During the current fiscal year, a total of 277,613 metric tons of rice and 318,560 metric tons of packaged and loose flour have been sold under the OMS programme.

At present, rice is being sold at Tk 30 per kilogram, while flour is being distributed at Tk 24 per kilogram (loose) and Tk 55 for a two-kilogram packet.

Under the special OMS programme for Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) cardholders, a total of 255,684 metric tons of rice have been successfully lifted and distributed across various divisions of the country. 

Against an allocation of 580,000 metric tons of rice, the programme currently has a remaining budget balance of 324,316 metric tons.

Under the FFP, which is designed for low-income people in rural areas, a total of 10,243 dealers have been appointed nationwide, of whom 8,276 dealers are currently operating directly. 

During the current fiscal year, the programme has distributed 959,350 metric tons of rice. Against a total allocation of 1 million metric tons of rice, only 40,620 metric tons remain in the programme's budget.

Across these three major government social safety-net programmes, 1,502,393 metric tons of rice have been distributed so far against an annual allocation of 1.88 million metric tons. The current balance of the rice budget stands at 377,607 metric tons.

In addition, against a flour budget equivalent to 525,000 metric tons of wheat, a total of 414,534 metric tons of flour have been distributed so far. The remaining balance is equivalent to 110,466 metric tons of wheat-based flour.

Talking to BSS, Md. Zahirul Islam Khan, Director of the Supply, Distribution and Marketing Division of the Directorate General of Food, said that the distribution programmes are continuing according to government plans.

"If the government introduces any new programme, we will work to implement it fully," he said.

Md. Jamal Hossain, Additional Director General (Acting) of the Directorate General of Food, told BSS that these government initiatives are primarily aimed at providing relief to low-income people.

"We have been able to achieve nearly 100 percent of the targets set by the government," he said.

He added that the new fiscal year's OMS and Food-Friendly Programmes are scheduled to begin in August, while preparatory work will start in July.

"If the government wishes, we are ready to launch the programmes in July itself," he said.

Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, Secretary of the Ministry of Food, told BSS that the government is successfully and systematically delivering subsidized food grains to ordinary citizens, which is playing an important role in stabilizing the country's food market.

He added that these efforts will continue in the future as well.