Anisul Islam Noor :
Bangladesh has decided to import one lakh metric tonnes of white rice from Myanmar to restore stability in the market.
“A delegation from Myanmar had a meeting with the Food Ministry on Sunday where the rice import was discussed,” a food ministry official said.
The move was taken amid the skyrocketing price of rice in the local market. The purchase will be done at $ 442 per tonne.
Replying to a query as to when the imported rice will be arriving, the Food Minister Qamrul Islam said the rice will arrive within the next three months.
Last month, Bangladesh faced a bout of instability in the rice market. The government was compelled to encourage imports from neighbouring countries.
Import duty on rice was brought down to two percent from the preceding 28 percent. But less than a month into such move, the price of rice has soared instead of coming down. The government again stepped in and started the sale of subsidised rice under its open market sale programme from this week at Tk 30 per kg.
Myanmar currently faces international condemnation for carrying out atrocities against the Rohingyas. Bangladesh is pressuring Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas.
Meanwhile IGP AKM Shahidul Hoque has strongly warned against rice hoarding.
He said, police will take action against those hoarding rice in a bid to create artificial crisis in the country. “Policemen have already been directed in this regard.”
The inspector general of police (IGP) repeated the warning at a press conference in police headquarters on Monday following repeated warning of the government against hoarders.
One Tofayel Alam has been facing economic hardship with the rice price skyrocketing in recent days.
He refused to buy cheaper white rice (Atap) under Open Market Sale yesterday. Tofayel rather go for the pricey parboiled rice (Shiddho) in the retail market than the subsidised one.
A fourth-class employee of the Geological Survey of Bangladesh, Tofayel went to an OMS point in the capital’s Mugda along with his wife. But when he saw white rice only, though at Tk 20 per kg less than the retail price, he didn’t buy it.
The Minister told media that his family always eats parboiled rice.
The couple were, however, happy purchasing 10 kg flour at only Tk 17 per kg against Tk 30 in the retail shops.
“The flour that we have purchased will be enough for one month,” Tofayel said.
Standing in a queue before another OMS point on the Green Road, a few women of lower-income bracket were curiously inspecting the white rice being sold. Three of them immediately bought flour but were hesitant to buy rice.
Finally, the women from Tejkunipara neighbourhood were convinced that they should grab the opportunity to get Tk 20 price benefit by purchasing white rice at Tk 30 a kg.
The government launched OMS operation yesterday across the country. In Dhaka, as many as 109 dealers were appointed, most of whom received only white rice from the food department.
