Rice imports from India through the Benapole port have been suspended on Sunday after instruction from the food ministry.
According to the agreement, Saturday (Oct 30) was the last day for rice import and traders will not be able to bring in rice until further notice.
Rush among the importers were seen to complete the import of rice through the Benapole port on Saturday. However, the traders on Sunday claimed that the rice-laden trucks were still waiting to enter through Benapole port.
Rice importer Mosharraf Hossain said that according to the government agreement, it will not be possible to import rice from October 31.
Alauddin, a rice importer, said coarse rice imported from India was being sold at a wholesale price of Tk 40 per kg and thin rice at Tk 52 to the locale market. Traders have bought the rice from the port and taken it to different parts of the country.
Benapole Customs Commissioner Md Azizur Rahman said rice imports from India through this port will remain closed until further notice.
Source: United News of Bangladesh