Cumilla: Food and Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumder today emphasized that no irregularities or corruption will be tolerated in the Aman procurement process. 'Stringent action will be taken against those who will involve with any irregularities during this drive,' he stated while addressing a views exchange meeting at the Cumilla circuit house focused on Aman and foodgrain procurement for FY2025-26 within the district.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the rice and paddy procurement for the current Aman season has commenced and will continue until February 28 of the following year. All relevant parties have been instructed to meet the scheduled procurement targets for rice and paddy. With the national election set for February, there is an effort to complete the procurement drive by December.
Majumder also mentioned that millers who have met their procurement targets should be assigned additional allocations. 'As much as we can procure, we can reduce the import dependency,' he noted at the function. He further expressed the aim not only to meet the target but also to maximize food stock, citing a record Boro procurement this year.
Addressing the issue of quality, the food adviser stated that the humidity of the paddy will be accepted when directly sold by farmers to millers, but rotten rice found in millers' storage will not be tolerated. He also discussed the procurement price, noting that the government has increased the purchase prices to better support farmers: Taka 34 per kg for paddy, Taka 50 for parboiled rice, and Taka 49 for Atap rice.
The meeting was attended by Director General of the Food Department M Abul Hasanat Humayun Kabir, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Reza Hasan, and senior officials from the food department and other government bodies.