Rotten rice imported from Thailand

The BNP yesterday accused the government of importing “rotten” rice from Thailand.

Two ships carrying rotten rice from Thailand are waiting to be unloaded at Chittagong port, although the food department has refused to accept the rice, claimed BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office.

"After importing rotten wheat from Africa, the government has now procured rotten rice from Thailand... the government is mocking with people's hunger," he said.

"Some 12,000 tonnes of rice have been brought by a ship, MV Thai Bin Day, on August 31, while some 19,850 tonnes brought by another ship, MV Diamond, from Thailand this month."

"We think the government high-ups are involved in importing the rotten rice from Thailand," he also said, alleging that the ship owners were trying to sell the “rotten” rice to local rice traders. "We heard that they've already contacted some rice traders to sell the rotten rice." Rizvi demanded investigation into the allegations.