Poor people in Jhenidah are very eager to buy rice under open market sale (OMS) programme as it sells at Tk 24 per kg against a market price of Tk 35. Hundreds of people throng the OMS rice distribution centres early on the appointed day.

However, many people have to go back empty handed as the dealers run out of supply shortly.

Each OMS dealer is provided 200 kg rice, but demand is much higher than that and many needy people are left deprived.

Jarina Khatun, 50, Tumpa, 10, Nurjahan , 45, Amena Khatun, 60, and Ashraful Islam, 12, went to Kaliganj rice distribution centre on Thursday night and slept there so that they could occupy the front positions in the line the next morning.

Tumpa, a student of class five of Shibnagar Model Primary School, said, "I could not go to school today as I had to come here to get the rice. I cannot get it if I am not here early. So I came at 2:00am last night.”

Amena Khatun of Dulalmundia village, five km away from the centre, went there at 1:00am, said, "I could not buy the rice last time as it was all sold out before I could

even reach here. I think the OMS dealers should be given more than just 200 kg so that all poor people can get the cheaper rice."

"It is very difficult for me to come here for the rice, but I still do. The money I save on rice helps me buy vegetables."

Nurjahan, who works as a domestic help, slept the night there to ensure an early turn so that she could take the rice and go to work after.

Rezaul Islam, an OMS dealer of Kaliganj upazila town, said, "I face a lot of trouble as I cannot supply according to the demand. I have to turn away at least 300 people every day."

"I think at least a 1000 kg

rice should be provided to each OMS dealer," he added.

Another dealer, Jahurul Islam said, "It is difficult to turn away a poor man empty handed. They crowd here and some of them sleep at the centre from the night before to occupy the front places of the queue in the morning. We should be given more rice to sell."

Atiar Rahman, another dealer of Jhenidah Sadar, echoed the same sentiment.

Deputy Commissioner Roma Rani Roy said, "Sometimes the people do not want to purchase OMS rice. If they need more, I will inform the concerned authority to provide more rice to each dealer."