Dhaka: Food Minister Afroza Khanam today announced there is no shortage of foodgrains in the country, as government warehouses currently hold more than 2.43 million metric tons of foodgrains against the prescribed security stock. The assurance was provided during a question-answer session in the Jatiya Sangsad, with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikrom, presiding.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Afroza Khanam responded to a scripted question from opposition lawmaker Md. Moshiur Rahman Khan, representing the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. She stated that the current stock of foodgrains indicates a food surplus. As of August 30, 2026, the government food warehouses held 2,437,807 metric tons of foodgrains.
The Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC), during its meeting on August 6, 2026, set the government foodgrain security stock at 1.40 million metric tons for normal times and 1.50 million metric tons for periods of crisis. Consequently, Afroza Khanam emphasized that there is no food shortage in the country.
The minister also highlighted that Bangladesh produced 43.496 million metric tons of foodgrains (rice and wheat/flour) during the fiscal year 2025-26, achieving about 96 percent of the target set at 45.388 million tons. She cited the FAO Food Outlook, noting that the country's rice demand or consumption was 42.3 million tons in FY2025-26, against a total supply of 43.652 million tons. Of this supply, 42.467 million tons were from domestic production and 1.285 million tons from imports.
Additionally, the wheat demand or consumption was 8.2 million tons during the same fiscal year, with a total supply of 8.367 million tons, which included 1.029 million tons from domestic production and 7.338 million tons from imports. Looking ahead, the FAO Food Outlook estimates for FY2026-27 place rice demand or consumption at 42.6 million tons and wheat demand or consumption at 8.3 million tons.
Afroza Khanam further mentioned that both the government and private sectors are involved in importing rice and wheat to maintain a stable supply and prices in line with demand.