Deal to be signed with Vietnam for rice import

Bangladesh will import rice from Vietnam in a deal intended to meet its growing food demand in the long term. A three-member delegation headed by food and disaster management minister Abdur Razzak left Dhaka for the Vietnamese capital Saturday to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard, said a statement. Director general of Food Directorate Ahmed Hossain Khan and Food Department joint secretary Atiar Rahman are also in the team. Under the MoU, Bangladesh will be able to import rice at the government level and the price of rice and amount will be fixed upon negotiation on the basis of international market. Vietnam will provide rice to Bangladesh on a priority basis, if necessary. During his visit, Mr Razzak will meet with the Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and also meet with industries and commerce minister of the country. Bangladesh has already imported00,000 tonnes of non-boiled (Atap) rice and 52,000 tonnes boiled rice from Vietnam and also signed a deal to import 100,000 tonnes of boiled rice which will reach Bangladesh soon. The minister will return home in April 20 after completing the tour. - FE Report