The government has restored discipline in the food sector bringing dynamism to food procurement, distribution, transportation, stock and import activities to fulfil one of the basic needs of the people.

The government has implemented a massive development programme to renovate and reconstruct godowns in 2001-'02 and 2202-'03 fiscals aiming at strengthening food security, food ministry sources said.

With the implementation of the development work, the stock capacity of the godowns now reached nearly 15.48 lakh tonnes, they said. Besides, the government provided farmers with the highest price assistance to ensure fair price of foodgrains.

In the current season, the government procured 7,50,413 tonnes of Boro till August, they added.

The government has brought dynamism in food distribution under several development and target- oriented programmes including food for education, training programme for self-employment and food assistance programme to save the people from natural disasters and other calamities.

The food ministry which is working as a stock holder in monitoring and planning different food-based welfare activities distributed 12.13 lakh tonnes of foodgrains in 2001-02 and 7.92 lakh tonnes in 2002-03, ministry sources said.

Regarding food import through private sector, the government took various steps to keep prices of foodgrains stable across the country, the sources said.

Reduction in bank LC margin and regulatory duty, and withdrawal of other taxes and fees on import of foodgrains helped the private sector to contribute to a lot during the crisis period.

Some 29.66 lakh tonnes of foodgrains had been imported through the private sector during 2002-03, they added.

The government sold 3,88,635 lakh tonnes of foodgrains in the Open Market Sale (OMS) at fair prices among the poor consumers that would help keep market price stable in 2002-03.

Sources said the present government has also attained a success in transportation of foodgrains.

The rate of godown shortfall reduced to 0.14 per cent in 2001-02 and 2002-03, sources said.

"Development partners of Bangladesh also expressed satisfaction at improvement of transportation and reduction of food deficit," the ministry sources said.

Meanwhile, the government has earned foreign currency of 64,781.28 US dollars and 21,700 euros by transporting 6.08 lakh tonnes of foodgrains from Rajshahi division and unloading 4.06 lakh tonnes at Chittagong and Mongla sea ports in 2001-02.