Magura food office authority to forfeit earnest money of millers

MAGURA, Oct 28: Magura food office authority is going to forfeit earnest money of 43 millers.

Rice procurement target could not be achieved in the last boro procurement drive. The millers who supplied no rice under the drive are going to lose their earnest money.

District food office sources informed , they started boro rice procurement drive from May 5. The procurement rate was Tk 36 per kg . A total of 185 millers made agreement with food office authority to supply rice under the drive. The procurement time was extended to September 15 from August 31. But the total procurement stood at 2,721 metric tonnes while the target was 5,615 metric tonnes.

Among 185 millers 43 have supplied no rice under the drive. Subsequently the authority issued show cause notice against the millers. As their reply is not satisfactory the authority has decided to forfeit their earnest money.

On contact, black listed miller Rafiqul Islam said the government fixed up procurement rate at Tk 36 per kg. But during procurement drive no rice was sold at Tk 36 per kg . By supplying rice at Tk 36 per kg we incurred heavy loss . "We run business for profit not to make loss . We think the decision of forfeiting earnest money illogical and inhuman".

When contacted district food controller Haprizur Rahman admitted the action against 43 millers and said market price doesn't matter to us as millers made agreement with us to supply rice at Tk 36 per kg.

He added though rice price is now high, initial stage of boro procurement drive rice price was reasonable and millers could supply rice without making loss. We are taking step against them for their neglect and irresponsibility, he said

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