Staff Reporter, Rangpur :
Boro rice procurement target may not be achieved in the district during this season due to higher price of rice in local markets compared to that of government rate.
According to sources government procurement drive began in the district on May 1 with a target to purchase 19,648 tonnes of Boro rice in the season. But so far 320 millers signed contract for supplying 5,905 tonnes of rice which is one fourth of the target, sources alleged. The millers so far supplied only 300 tonnes of rice to government warehouse, sources further alleged.
Sources said the government decided to buy rice from millers at Tk 34 per kg but presently per kg coarse rice is selling at Tk 44 to Tk 45 in local markets which is higher than government procurement rate. A number of millers said as market price of rice is higher than the government procurement rate they prefer selling rice at local markets instead of selling it to government purchase cenres.
Requesting anonymity a rice mill owner said that he has signed a contract to supply 30 tonnes of rice to government godowns. If he supplies the rice to government warehouse presently, he will have to incur around Tk 2 to Tk 3 lakh. Whereas he can earn good profit by selling it in local markets, he added.General Secretary of Rice Mill Owners Association, Rangpur Shamsul Alam said he signed a contract to supply 50 tonnes of rice to government godowns. But presently he is not eager to do that because of higher price of rice in local markets than government rate.
District food controller, Shahjahan Bhuiyan said rice procurement drive started in the district last month and it is expected to continue till August 31.
He hoped that the millers would supply rice to government warehouse within the stipulated time.
Rangpur range under security blanket during Ramzan: DIG
The law enforcement agencies have taken adequate steps to bring all eight districts of Rangpur range of Bangladesh Police under security blanket during the holy month of Ramzan.
“Police and RAB will conduct special patrols, including anti-crime and anti-drug raids to ensure peaceful law and order during Ramadan,” Deputy Inspector General (DIG) for Rangpur range Khondker Golam Faruk said.
The DIG said this while talking to journalists after presiding over the range-level meeting on monthly crime, holy Ramzan, Eid-ul-Fitr, law and order and traffic management issues held at his conference room on Wednesday.
He said, “I have already directed all Superintendents of Police (SPs) of Rangpur range to take necessary measures to stop toll collections and extortions from vehicles on the roads and highways during Ramadan.”
The police forces and RAB would conduct special patrols separately to ensure security at all bigger markets and shopping centres for safety- security of the female buyers, he said.
“We have already declared zero tolerance policy against drugs. Police and RAB have started drives against drug traders. Drug traders shall not be spared,” the DIG said.
Besides, the highway police would take special measures to reduce the extent of road accidents on the roads and highways during Ramadan in all eight districts under Rangpur range, he added.
Additional DIGs for Rangpur range Bashir Ahmed and Mazid Ali, Additional DIG of CID Bijoy Kar, all eights SPs of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon and Dinajpur districts were present.
Boro rice procurement target may not be achieved in the district during this season due to higher price of rice in local markets compared to that of government rate.
According to sources government procurement drive began in the district on May 1 with a target to purchase 19,648 tonnes of Boro rice in the season. But so far 320 millers signed contract for supplying 5,905 tonnes of rice which is one fourth of the target, sources alleged. The millers so far supplied only 300 tonnes of rice to government warehouse, sources further alleged.
Sources said the government decided to buy rice from millers at Tk 34 per kg but presently per kg coarse rice is selling at Tk 44 to Tk 45 in local markets which is higher than government procurement rate. A number of millers said as market price of rice is higher than the government procurement rate they prefer selling rice at local markets instead of selling it to government purchase cenres.
Requesting anonymity a rice mill owner said that he has signed a contract to supply 30 tonnes of rice to government godowns. If he supplies the rice to government warehouse presently, he will have to incur around Tk 2 to Tk 3 lakh. Whereas he can earn good profit by selling it in local markets, he added.General Secretary of Rice Mill Owners Association, Rangpur Shamsul Alam said he signed a contract to supply 50 tonnes of rice to government godowns. But presently he is not eager to do that because of higher price of rice in local markets than government rate.
District food controller, Shahjahan Bhuiyan said rice procurement drive started in the district last month and it is expected to continue till August 31.
He hoped that the millers would supply rice to government warehouse within the stipulated time.
Rangpur range under security blanket during Ramzan: DIG
The law enforcement agencies have taken adequate steps to bring all eight districts of Rangpur range of Bangladesh Police under security blanket during the holy month of Ramzan.
“Police and RAB will conduct special patrols, including anti-crime and anti-drug raids to ensure peaceful law and order during Ramadan,” Deputy Inspector General (DIG) for Rangpur range Khondker Golam Faruk said.
The DIG said this while talking to journalists after presiding over the range-level meeting on monthly crime, holy Ramzan, Eid-ul-Fitr, law and order and traffic management issues held at his conference room on Wednesday.
He said, “I have already directed all Superintendents of Police (SPs) of Rangpur range to take necessary measures to stop toll collections and extortions from vehicles on the roads and highways during Ramadan.”
The police forces and RAB would conduct special patrols separately to ensure security at all bigger markets and shopping centres for safety- security of the female buyers, he said.
“We have already declared zero tolerance policy against drugs. Police and RAB have started drives against drug traders. Drug traders shall not be spared,” the DIG said.
Besides, the highway police would take special measures to reduce the extent of road accidents on the roads and highways during Ramadan in all eight districts under Rangpur range, he added.
Additional DIGs for Rangpur range Bashir Ahmed and Mazid Ali, Additional DIG of CID Bijoy Kar, all eights SPs of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon and Dinajpur districts were present.
