Govt asks private sector to import 327,000 tonnes rice in one month

The government has asked the private sector to import 327,000 tonnes of rice within one month, aiming to further regulate the price of the staple food in the retail market, reports BSS.

A total of 59 rice importers have already received government approval to import the rice. Of the total amount of rice, 247,000 tonnes will be boiled rice, while 80,000 tonnes will be non-boiled (Atap) rice, according to a food ministry order released on Tuesday.

"We have approved 59 companies to import 327,000 tonnes of boiled and non-boiled (Atap) rice, aiming to keep price of rice in the retail market stable," M Habibur Rahman Hosaini, Additional Secretary (Procurement and Supply) of the Food Ministry, told BSS on Thursday.

The order issued on Tuesday must be executed immediately with a view to covering the gap before the upcoming Aman harvest, said the official.

The private importers must market the rice within December 10, mentioned the order.

The importers have to directly sell the imported rice in sacks in the market instead of repackaging them.

Talking to BSS, Rice Arotder Samity General Secretary Nirod Baran Saha said: "The government's decision on rice import will help reduce the rice price further in the market. Even the imports will have an impact on the price of the newly harvested paddy, as the price of per kg of paddy is now being sold at Tk 36 to Tk 36.50."