Bangladesh Govt asks private sector to import, sell 3.92 lakh tonnes rice by 22 December
The government has approved 92 private sector companies to import 3.92 lakh tonnes of rice, including 2.73 lakh tonnes of boiled rice and 1.19 lakh tonnes of non-boiled “Atap” rice, to stabilize retail prices. This order is part of a broader strategy to cover the rice supply gap caused by the current Aman harvest. The imported rice must be sold in retail markets by December 22.
The government has allowed the private sector to import 3.92 lakh tonnes of rice within this month, aiming to keep rice prices stable in the retail market across the country, according to food ministry.
A total of 92 private rice importers have already got the government approval to import the 3.92 lakh tonnes of rice, which includes 2.73 lakh tonnes of boiled and another 1.19 lakh tonnes of non-boiled “Atap” rice.
With this latest order, the food ministry has given permission to some 277 private sector companies separately for the fourth times to import a total of 14.81 lakh tonnes of boiled and non-boiled “Atap” rice within this month.
“We have approved 92 private sector companies to import 3.92 lakh MT of boiled and non-boiled ‘Atap’ rice aiming to keep rice price stable in the retail market,” said M Habibur Rahman Hosaini, additional secretary (procurement and supply) of the food ministry.
The order has been issued almost two weeks ago to import the amount of rice immediately with a view to covering the gap of current Aman harvest, which is likely to end by the end of this month, said the official.
The private importers must supply the rice in retail markets within 22 December, according to the order.
“The importers have to sell these amounts of rice in sacks directly in the market instead of re-packaging by the imported companies,” said the official.
While talking to BSS, Rice Arotder Samity General Secretary Nirod Baran Saha said, “The government’s rice import decision would reduce the rice price further in the market. Even the import also will affect the newly harvested paddy price as the price of per kg paddy is now at Tk36 to Tk36.50.”
Earlier, the food ministry had allowed 185 private sector companies to import around 10.89 lakh tonnes of rice –where 7.92 lakh tonnes were boiled and the rest 2.97 lakh tonnes were non-boiled “Atap” rice.
The importers were asked to sell those amounts of rice by 10 December.
The public sector accumulated food storage till Wednesday was at 10,88,351 tonnes–where some 6,66,728 tonnes of rice, 4,21,171 tonnes of wheat and the rest 681 tonnes of paddy.
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Source : The Business Standard
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