OMS on despite hartal

Dhaka, July 10 (bdnews24.com) ? Unlike the previous hartal days, the open market sale (OMS) of rice continues in the city despite shutdown, allowing the low-income people to buy it at fair prices.

Ahmed Hossain, the DG of food directorate, told bdnews24.com, "Pressure mounts on us in case of disruption in the OMS programme. So, we resumed the operation [Sunday]. And it'll continue during hartal in the future, too."

bdnews24.com ran a report last week on the miseries of commoners in the city due to suspension of the OMS programme during hartal.

Twelve political parties, mostly Islamist, enforced the 30-hour non-stop shutdown demanding that 'Absolute Faith and Trust in Allah' be restored in the constitution and secularism be dropped.

The main opposition BNP and its ally Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami extended their support to the hartal programme.

BNP and its allies enforced a 48-hour non-stop shutdown from Wednesday.

Under the OMS programme, food directorate sends out 150 trucks across the city five days a week to sell rice among the poor at subsidised rates. Some trucks also sell flour alongside rice.

A person can buy maximum five kgs of rice a day at Tk 24 a kg and three kgs of flour at Tk 20 per kg. The programme runs from 9am to 5pm.

Deputy-inspector of the directorate Mostafa Kamal told bdnews24.com at Naya Bazar that people started gathering in queues after 10:30am. "Some of them may return home without rice due to the pressure."

Majibur Rahman, a rickshaw-puller, who was in a queue in front of Bangla College at Mirpur, said he rushed to the spot when he came to know that the OMS programme.

"We find it difficult to mange food for our family members when we can't buy rice at a lower price," he added.

The poor people were seen in long queues at Mirpur Mazar, Shewrapara bus stand, Kalyanpur Natun Bazar, Kazipara bus stand and near Sony Cinema Hall.

OMS dealer Zakir Hossain said they were instructed on Saturday night to continue the programme during the shutdown.

"We face greater crowd when there is disruption in the OMS programme," he told bdnews24.com.

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India ahead despite Windies fight

Kingston, June 23 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? Rahul Dravid made a painstakingly slow but masterful century to put India in a strong position to win the first test against West Indies at Sabina Park Wednesday.

Dravid, showing all the patience and sublime skill built up over a 15-year test career, batted for almost six and a half hours to compile 112 in a low-scoring match where both teams have struggled to score freely.

His performance enabled the tourists to post a second-innings total of 252 and set West Indies a daunting target of 326 to win the series opener.

West Indies racked up 131 to reduce their target to 195 off by the time stumps were drawn on the third day but lost three wickets in the process, leaving India in control of a match seemingly destined to finish early.

Dravid's hundred was his 32nd in tests and his fourth against West Indies and the 38-year-old provided his younger team mates with a lesson in resilience as he cautiously navigated his way to triple figures on a pitch offering assistance to the spinners.

None of the other batsman got to 30 while Darren Sammy and Devendra Bishoo were the pick of the West Indian bowlers, capturing four wickets each.

India started the third day on 91 for three but lost Virat Kohli (15), Suresh Raina (27) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (16) in the morning session as Dravid took his overnight score from 45 to 69.

Content to bat cautiously and occupy the crease, Dravid accelerated in the middle session, reaching his ton off 252 balls before becoming the last wicket to fall.

West Indies made a flying start to their run chase when Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons brought up their 50 partnership in just 55 balls before India made three quick strikes, removing Barath (38), Simmons (27) and Ramnaresh Sarwan, for no score, to leave the home side reeling at 80-3.

Darren Bravo (30 not out) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (24 not out) added 51 in an unbroken stand fopr the fourth wicket to guide the home team to the close without further casualties and give them some hope of reaching their target Thursday.

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