Leaders of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) yesterday submitted a memorandum to the food adviser urging introduction of countrywide rationing system, extending OMS programme and establishing a state buffer stock of essential items to rein in price spiral. Terming the food situation a very alarming, the LDF said a syndicate of crooked hoarders and businessmen hiked the prices of food grains when the government stock was very inadequate and, thus, bagged a huge benefit. A seven-member LDF delegation submitted the 14-point memo to Food and Disaster Management Adviser AMM Shawkat Ali at the latter's office in the city. "Though the government has introduced OMS programme of late, it is limited in urban areas,' the memo said, suggesting expansion of the programme and setting up of fair price shops with government help. To ensure just prices of farmers' produces, the LDF suggested setting up of government purchase centres in each village for buying paddy and rice directly from the farmers, and extending BADC activities to send fertiliser, seeds, insecticides and irrigation equipment timely to the farmers. Suggestions also included enacting consumer rights law and ensure its countrywide enforcement, expanding the activities of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh to ensure smooth import, stock and supply of essentials through the government channels, and establishing a buffer stock at government initiative. The LDF delegation comprised Coordinator Ruhin Hossain Prince, CPB President (acting) Shahidullah Chowdhury, General Secretary (GS) Mujahidul Islam Selim, Bangladesh Workers Party GS Bimal Biswas, Politburo member Haider Akbar Khan Rono, Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal GS Dilip Barua and Politburo member Lutfor Rahman.