Patuakhali:Dhaka Food Minister Afroza Khanam, MP, has proposed the construction of a wheat silo with Russian financing at the unused land of Payra Sea Port in Patuakhali. The proposed silo would have a capacity of 2-5 lakh metric tonnes.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Russian ambassador Alexander Khozin welcomed the proposal during a courtesy call on the food minister at her ministry office. During the meeting, Khozin also suggested exporting wheat to Bangladesh on a government-to-government basis and proposed building a wheat silo at Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar with Russian financing.
In response, the food minister stated that the proposal to import wheat from Russia at the government level would be reviewed and a decision would be communicated later. She noted that finding suitable land at Maheshkhali might be challenging due to land shortages, suggesting Payra Sea Port as an alternative due to its existing infrastructure and communication facilities.
The minister highlighted the potential for a large-capacity wheat silo at Payra Sea Port, starting with a capacity of 2 lakh metric tonnes and potentially increasing to 5 lakh metric tonnes. This facility would allow for the storage of imported Russian wheat and create opportunities for local market sales and government procurement, strengthening the country's wheat supply and storage management.
Furthermore, the minister invited the Russian ambassador to visit Payra Sea Port to assess the feasibility of the proposal, emphasizing that an on-site visit would assist in decision-making regarding site selection, infrastructure, and project implementation.
The meeting, attended by Russian Embassy First Secretary Anastasia Nemova, Food Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, Directorate General of Food Director General Md Jashim Uddin Khan, and other officials, underscored the long-standing friendship between Russia and Bangladesh and the potential for enhanced trade and economic cooperation.