Despite the government’s several initiatives, the country’s rice market still remains unstable. The price of rice continues to rise even after new imports.
The retailers complained that the price of rice is not coming under control due to the syndicate of mill owners.
However, it was decided at the meeting of the Food Planning and Conservation Committee that the entry of rice-laden trucks across the border would be given the highest priority and necessary steps would be taken to remove all other obstacles to rice import and make rice market stable.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the food planning and consumption committee held virtually on Thursday.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Agriculture Minister Md Abdur Razzak, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman, Fisheries and Livestock Minister S M Rezaul Karim attended the meeting virtually. Chaired by Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder the meeting was moderated by Food Secretary Moshammat Nazmanara Khanum.
During the meeting it was informed that, hundreds of rice-laden trucks are waiting in Bhomra, Hili, Burimari, Banglabandha, Sheola, Sona Mosque and other land ports through which they are supposed to enter the country. Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder requested the ministers concerned to take necessary steps so that the waiting trucks could enter the country on priority basis.
The food minister said that there was a huge demand for Atap rice in Sylhet and Chittagong divisions. He requested the meeting for taking it into consideration whether the ban could be relaxed and non-basmati coarse rice imported.
The Finance Minister present at the meeting asked for sending a joint proposal on all other necessary issues including permission to import non-basmati coarse rice. The meeting also discussed in detail the current stock situation of rice, trend of internal collection, volume of rice imports, market price of rice, allocation to OMS sector etc.
So far, permission has been given to import a total of 10 lakh 14 thousand 500 metric tons of rice at the private level in favour of 320 companies. Imported rice has already started coming to the country.
