Companies to be allowed to import rice
Private companies would be allowed to import rice to keep the price of the staple stable amid the soaring rice price in the market in the peak boro season.
The prime minister will take the final call on this, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder told journalists following a meeting yesterday of the food planning and monitoring committee, where the preliminary decision was taken.
"We will ensure farmers and other concerned are not affected by the decision."
Rice import will begin as soon as possible and the window for import would be short to save farmers from losses in the coming season.
There is no shortage in rice production but hoarders and unethical businessmen are creating an artificial scarcity, according to Majumder.
The drives against illegal hoarding of rice will continue.
"Already the consumers are getting the benefit of drives. The market will become stable through import, market monitoring and drives," Majumder added.
Also at the meeting, a decision was taken to allow sales of packaged rice, according to Food Secretary Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum.
Earlier on June 1, Majumder had said that the government would not allow large business groups to sell packaged rice, which comes at a higher price than those sold loosely in the market.
"We had taken that decision for the sake of general consumers but in the meeting, the others suggested not to issue an embargo on packaged rice. Those who can afford the packaged rice will buy it," Khanum said, while directing the conglomerates not to hoard rice beyond the approved limit.
In the last cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed authorities concerned to take action against companies involved in unauthorised rice trading and hoarding.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection (DNCRP) will be conducting drives at the mills and warehouses of millers and big business groups from next week to check illegal rice hoarding.
Millers and companies have been asked to provide information about their rice stock.
"After conducting drives at the retail and wholesale market, we are now turning our focus on millers and conglomerates," said AHM Shafiquzzaman, the director-general of DNCRP.
The decision came at a meeting held by the DNCRP at its office with stockists, millers, companies and supermarket owners to keep rice supply and its price stable.
"We have seen a blame game at the meeting. Everyone says they are right and not involved in malpractice."
The DNCRP has noticed a huge price gap between supermarkets and suppliers.
"Why is there such a big gap in the price? We will hold a meeting with both parties soon to discuss the matter," Shafiquzzaman said.
The prices of coarse and fine rice increased 5.38 percent and 3.17 percent respectively in just seven days, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.
Currently, the price of course rice is Tk 48-50 a kilogram.
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