Food Secretary Dr Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum on Wednesday assured that the prices of rice would not increase during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
She gave the assurance while talking to reporters at her Secretariat office.
"I can assure you (journalists) that the prices of rice would not increase during Ramadan this year because the food-friendly programme of the government will start in March," Dr Nazmanara said.
"As many as five million families would get 30 kg rice each under the programme. So there is no chance of rice price hike during the month of fasting," she added.
Asked what would be the government initiative in case rice prices increase inevitably during Ramadan in line with the present high rate of the main staple, she said, "If we (government) see that situation, we would increase the number of open market sale (OMS) outlets."
She asserted that the government always shows liberal attitudes as regards the food issues and it (the government) would start selling rice at increased volumes at subsidised rate in the open market.
"And if necessary, the government is ready to import rice considering the interest of the consumers," she said.
She, however, straightaway ruled out the possibility of rice import right now by the government.
The country has now over two million tonnes of food stock in the public silos, she said.
If the government takes move to import rice, the critics might through into question the government's claim of the present sufficient food stock in the country, she added.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) had earlier suggested that the government import rice though they expressed satisfaction at the country's overall food production, she said.
"We (the government) don't want to import (rice)-- if we can fulfill our requirement within our means then it will be easier for us to establish that we are self-sufficient," she added.
Even though there is a stock of over two million tonnes of food, millers are ready to sell rice to the government, she continued.
"So prices of the coarse varieties of rice would not increase further; rather those would come down after arrival of the newly-harvested Boro, " she said.
She expressed optimism that if any untoward situation dose not happen newly-harvested Boro rice would hit the market in April next that will help prevent further price escalation of rice.
Admitting the present price spiral of different varieties of rice, she said it would be brought under control through increased supply (of rice). Prices of different varieties of rice in the market are now high.
Coarse varieties of rice were selling at around Tk50 per kg while fine varieties at between Tk60 and Tk 65 a kg in the city's retail markets on Wednesday.
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