1m tonnes of rice need to be imported to meet shortfall

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The government will have to import about 1.0 million tonnes of rice as the current food stock will shrink from March, the food and disaster management secretary said Monday, against the backdrop of huge crop losses in calamities, reports UNB.
Briefing reporters on the cyclone 'Sidr' and its aftermath at the ministry, Secretary Mohammad Ayub Mia said that, under the circumstances, it would be useful for Bangladesh if donor countries offered aid in terms of food.
He requested donor countries which want to donate rice to Bangladesh in aid of the calamity victims to buy it from outside market.
'If they (donors) buy rice from local market, it would affect government food stock," he said, adding that the current stock is 7.35 tonnes against 6.29 tonnes of the corresponding period of last year.
Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakraborty met the Food Secretary Monday to inform him that the Indian government removed restrictions on import of 50,000 tonnes of Indian rice by Bangladesh.
He said India would donate 40,000 tonnes of rice and 10,000 tonnes of wheat worth $ 22 million. Besides, New Delhi will give 1000 tonnes of milk powder and relief goods, including ready-to-eat food, worth one million US dollars.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the leveller 'Sidr' rose today to 3,243 from 3,161 with the compilation of new casualties from Barguna, one of the worst-hit districts.
Mia said 880 people were still missing following the cyclone that battered country's 15 coastal districts.
Meanwhile, cash and relief materials from the Chief Adviser's Relief Fund and the Food and Disaster Management Ministry have been sent to the affected areas.
Japan, India, Pakistan and USA, and Rotary Club (UK ) have also sent relief materials by air for the cyclone victims.