The interim government has decided to suspend special open market sales it introduced in October in the past year to offer agricultural and farm products at affordable prices.
Finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Tuesday disclosed the decision while he was talking to reporters after a meeting of the advisory committee on government purchases at the secretariat in the capital Dhaka.
Under the special OMS initiative of the agriculture and food ministries, rice, onions, eggs and different types of vegetables were sold, benefitting about eight lakh consumers in Dhaka and Chattogram.
鈥業f needed, we will begin the special OMS again in future,鈥� he said in response to a question regarding the suspension.
The finance adviser said that the vegetable prices were on a downward trend.
He, however, expressed disappointment over the supply chain manipulation by the intermediaries and wholesalers.
Over criticisms from different quarters, including the Centre for Policy Dialogue, regarding the increase in rates of value-added tax on different products, the finance adviser said, 鈥楲et them say.鈥�
The rationale of hikes will be cleared soon, he said, adding that they had already cancelled hikes in rates on some items, including medicines.
On the proposed dearness allowance for public officials and employees, he said that he would not make any comments.
He, however, said that they would review income tax rates in the new budget to be announced in June.
The advisory committee on government purchases at Tuesday鈥檚 meeting approved seven proposals, including four on purchase of 1.2 lakh tonnes of urea fertiliser from sources like Saudia Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company with the prices of a tonne ranging from $353 to $373.
Two proposals on purchase of 10,000 tonnes and 20,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid were also approved.
Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory was awarded a deal to supply steel cross arms worth Tk聽70.03 crore under the final proposal from the Power Development Board for its power supply network strengthening project in Dhaka and Mymensingh.
