The government has decided to discontinue the special Open Market Sale (OMS) program that provided low-cost agricultural products to low-income groups via trucks. Finance Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed announced on Tuesday that the program would cease operations starting January, following a decision made during the Advisory Committee on Procurement meeting at the Secretariat.
The initiative, launched on October 15 by the Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce, offered a package of 10 agricultural items for 650 taka. These included staples like eggs, potatoes, onions, vegetables, and green chilies. Over 8 lakh people benefited from the program during its run, which was piloted in 20 areas of Dhaka daily.
Dr. Salehuddin confirmed that the package's distribution ended with its last phase in December and will not be extended. He added that the government is focusing on ensuring market stability, citing a slight decrease in rice prices and control over other product prices.
Regarding recent VAT and tax increases, Dr. Salehuddin stated these would be adjusted in the upcoming budget, emphasizing that the hikes had not significantly impacted market dynamics.
The special OMS program aimed to support low-income households during its limited tenure but is now being phased out as part of broader government efforts to stabilize the market.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
