Unscientific milling system has been causing wastage of 5.17 million tonnes of rice every year, while the country has to import 1.0-1.5 million tonnes of the staple yearly for maintaining a balance in the domestic market.
The Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) has recently sent a report to the ministries of agriculture and commerce, which revealed that above 5.17 million tonnes of rice are wasted in the country every year for over-polishing.
Local millers are polishing rice to make it finer and whiter to attract consumers, and marketing the polished rice as Miniket - although there is no such paddy variety, claimed the report.
The DAM sent the report - 'Nutritional value of rice and health hazard by the rice called Miniket' - to the ministries to take necessary steps regarding the issue.
The report showed that Bangladesh yearly produced above 40.1 million tonnes of rice against the maximum demand for 35.6 million tonnes.
DAM nutrition development officer Pranab Kumar Saha prepared the report on the basis of statistics and information of different government agencies.
Contacted, he said the DAM officials in the rice milling hubs contributed to the report, while the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) also provided information.
He noted that rice contributed 58 per cent of people's calorie intake. But over-polishing wipes away maximum food value and other minerals like Iron, Calcium, Vitamin B-1, Vitamin B-2, etc.
Millers are over polishing rice varieties like BRRI dhan 28, 29 and others, and marketing those as Miniket. Many northern region traders are now selling polished rice in the name of Jeerashail, a local variety of finer quality, he added.
The DAE earlier issued a circular to packet rice by mentioning its proper variety name. In October 2022, the then cabinet secretary also declared that the rice variety name should be written on sacks while packaging it in mills.
"No rice can be sold in the name of Miniket," said the then cabinet secretary.
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder recently said the government would enact a law to stop polishing of rice.
"We must be aware that we won't consume polished rice anymore. We are going to enact a law in this regard."
He noted that rice mills across the country usually do five types of polishing, following which rice price increases but it loses nutritional value.
"Polishing not only causes nutrient loss, but also causes loss of a notable quantity of rice every year," he added.
Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection (DNCRP) Director General A H M Shafiquzzaman said they are aware of the issue.
The DNCRP teams are active to prevent any trading of rice in the name of Miniket.
Farm economist Prof Dr Humayun Kabir said rice marketing of traders and big companies totally depends on consumers' behavioural pattern.
City consumers know the names of maximum five varieties of rice - Miniket, Najirshail, Paijam, Swarna and BRRI dhan 28.
The government should undertake massive awareness building activities to make people aware of rice varieties based on their seasons.
He opined that the initiative to mention the name of rice variety on sacks in mills should be duly implemented.
Rice milling method should be changed. But it would need big investments, as millers are already stuck with their auto machines imported at high costs.
"If we could save additional 2.0-2.5 million tonnes of rice from polishing, the country would hardly need to import the staple food," he added.
According to the Directorate General of Food, the country imported 1.0 million tonnes of rice in last financial year, while annual import has been 1.0-1.5 million tonnes during the last five years.
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