Govt to extend time limit for aromatic rice export

The government is set to extend the time limit for exporting aromatic rice to the world markets by another year, officials said.
In this connection, the ministry of commerce (MoC) has sent last week a proposal to the ministry of law for vetting, they said.
"The MoC has sought vetting from the law ministry about the time extension for aromatic rice export by another year. The MoC will take the decision in this connection after getting the law ministry's opinion," Saidur Rahman Selim, Deputy Secretary of MoC told the FE Wednesday.
The period of aromatic rice export may be extended up to June 15, 2015. Earlier, the office of the chief controller of imports and exports (CCIE) under the ministry of commerce (MoC) issued a circular extending the time for aromatic rice export, until June 2014, sources said.
On the other hand, ban on export of normal rice is in force, a high official of the MoC informed.
Ban on rice export may continue to boost supply of rice in the local markets and control its prices, an official of the ministry of food said.
The then caretaker government had first imposed ban on rice export in 2008 in the wake of price increase at home and abroad.
The consumption of aromatic rice is low in the local market. So the government should continue the export of the rice for the sake of Bangladeshi migrants who are living in different countries of the world, sources said.
But a senior MoC official said the government cannot take quick decision for extending the time limit for exporting aromatic rice. The government has to think before taking any decision for the sake of domestic consumers' interest, he added.
The demand for aromatic rice, is mostly from migrant workers and non-resident Bangladeshis in the Middle East countries, the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada and other countries including South Africa, said exporters.
More or less 2,000 tonnes of aromatic rice are exported to international market per year, according to exporters.
"A good quantity of aromatic rice is likely to be exported because of increased demand ahead of the Eid festival," a leading rice trader said.
Pran-RFL Group has sought permission from the MoC to export 1000 tonnes of aromatic rice (chini gura) on May 26 last. Besides, several small traders also sought permission from the MoC to export aromatic rice earlier, sources said.
A local leading processed-food maker has got export order of 400 tonnes of aromatic rice from some international buyers.