Dhaka: The government has directed the private sector to import 3.27 lakh tonnes of rice within a month as part of efforts to stabilize the price of this essential commodity in retail markets nationwide. A total of 59 rice importers have been granted official approval to bring in the specified quantity of rice. Of this, 2.47 lakh tonnes will be boiled rice, while 80,000 tonnes will be non-boiled (Atap) rice, according to a food ministry order released on Tuesday.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, M. Habibur Rahman Hosaini, Additional Secretary (Procurement and Supply) of the Food Ministry, confirmed the government’s approval for 59 companies to import the rice. The initiative aims to maintain stable rice prices in the retail market. The directive issued on Tuesday mandates immediate execution to address the anticipated gap before the upcoming Aman harvest, which is expected to take about one and a half months.
The private importers are required to distribute the imported rice in the market by Decemb
er 10, as stated in the order. Additionally, the importers must sell the rice directly in sacks, bypassing any repackaging by the importing companies.
Nirod Baran Saha, General Secretary of the Rice Arotder Samity, expressed confidence in the government’s decision, stating that importing rice will further reduce market prices. The impact is also expected to extend to the price of newly-harvested paddy, currently priced between Taka 36 and Taka 36.50 per kilogram.
The public sector’s accumulated food storage as of Wednesday stands at 12,88,513 tonnes, consisting of 8,48,139 tonnes of rice, 4,39,564 tonnes of wheat, and 1,245 tonnes of paddy.