Bangladesh and Pakistan on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), under which the former will import non-basmati white rice (atap or sun-burned rice) from the latter on a government-to-government (G2G) basis.
Bangladesh's Directorate General of Food and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides in the food ministry meeting room at the secretariat.
Trading Corporation of Pakistan Chairman Syed Rafeo Bashir Shah and Director General of
Bangladesh's Directorate General of Food Md Abdul Khaleque conducted the formalities, said a food ministry release.
Bangladesh Food Secretary Md Masudul Hasan, Pakistan commerce ministry Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mangnejo, and High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maroof were also present at the event, among others. The MoU is expected to open a new horizon to stabilise Bangladesh's rice market as well as increase and strengthen economic and trade relations between the two nations.
Rice prices increased by 15-20 per cent in the last one and a half months in Bangladesh, with the coarse variety now sold at Tk 60-62 per kg, the medium one Tk 68-72 per kg, and the fine one Tk 78-94 a kg, according to market sources.
To stabilise the market, the government has targeted to import 0.5 million tonnes of rice. Import duties have also been scrapped to facilitate imports.
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MoU inked to import atap rice from Pakistan
FE REPORT | Published: January 14, 2025 23:29:21
MoU inked to import atap rice from Pakistan
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