Trucks roll in from India after 20 days

Trucks loaded with Indian rice started entering Bangladesh through Benapole and Sonamasjid land ports yesterday after being held up for twenty days.
The trucks were allowed to enter Bangladesh as the central commerce ministry of India approved the export of rice at $ 505 a tonne.
At least 50 trucks with 900 tonnes of rice entered Bangladesh through Benapole while 600 tonnes of rice entered through Sonamasjid yesterday afternoon.
The import of rice through Bhomra land port in Satkhira is likely to resume today, while the import through Hili land port in Dinajpur is expected to resume tomorrow.
Abdul Kuddus, a customs (cargo) officer at Benapole land port, said the Benapole authorities issued gate passes for 156 consignments of 3,120 tonnes of rice, a correspondent from Benapole reported.
Assistant Commissioner Customs at Benapole Abdul Aziz said, "We are prepared to keep the port open even on holidays for quick release of rice."
A letter from the Indian commerce ministry authorised the export of rice at previously fixed rate of $ 505 a tonne, with the condition that the customs authorities signed the export bill before March 6.
The price for the consignments of rice with export bills signed after March 6 should be set at $ 650 per tonne, said Petrapole Customs Division Deputy Commissioner Anwar Hossain.
At present, around 3,000 trucks loaded with rice are waiting to enter Bangladesh at Petrapole land port in India as Indian authorities on March 5 imposed restrictions on export of Indian rice at prices below $ 650 per tonne.
Meanwhile, a correspondent from Chapainawabganj reports: The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) has offered in writing to purchase 600 tonnes of rice from Panama Port Link Ltd that imported the rice yesterday through Sonamasjid land port.
Our Correspondent from Dinajpur reports: The import of rice through Hili land port could not resume yesterday due to complications in the tender documents.
PRICE OF RICE INCREASED
After being stable for the last two days, the price of rice in most retail markets in the capital increased by Tk 1 per kg. Retailers blamed price hike at the wholesale markets for the rising trend at retail markets.
The prices of different varieties of coarse rice were Tk 33 to Tk 36 a kg yesterday.
The rising prices of essentials have been compelling the people from low and middle-income groups to queue up at open market sales (OMS) outlets and BDR fair price outlets.
(Our correspondents from Benapole, Chapainawabganj, Dinajpur and Satkhira contributed to this item)