The government today launched open market sale (OMS) of coarse rice at the rate of Tk 30 per kilogramme across the divisional and district towns.

“OMS programme, meant for providing rice to common people for relatively low prices, started across the country in the morning,” Al Waziur Rahman, deputy director of the directorate of food, told The Daily Star.

A total of 806 OMS centres including 179 in flood-affected areas will distribute rice in full swing across the country, the deputy director said.

In Dhaka city, 109 centres will sell rice at the reduced price, said Tapan Kumar Das, chief controller of rationing department.

As rice prices have gone up in the last few days, the government on Friday said conspiracy has been afoot to destabilise the rice market.

Food Minister Qamrul Islam ruled out any shortage of rice in the country.

According to Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the retail price of coarse rice rose by Tk 1 per kg every day from September 11. But the price soared by Tk 2 on September 14.

Several ministers and rice industry stakeholders said a section of traders made a hefty profit in the last few days after spreading fake information that the Indian government imposed a ban on rice export to Bangladesh.