Staff Reporter :
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Wednesday asked mill owners not to hike rice price.
“The country has an adequate stockpile of rice. There is no reason to increase its prices. If any quarter tries to hike rice price, stern action will be taken against them,” the minister warned during a views exchange meeting with rice mill owners in the Secretariat.
He requested the wholesalers not to raise the price of rice, and lower the price which had already gone up and to guard against price hike once again.
After the meeting, the minister told the journalists that a cell had been formed to monitor the market round the clock.
He said also that the wholesale traders had been given necessary directives to keep rice market stable.
Replying to a query, Sadhan Chandra said if the transport strike continues even for 10 days, there will be no shortages of rice. There is no reason of price hiking of the commodity.
The minister said, “We are thinking about export of rice instead of import. In such situation hiking of rice price is totally unreasonable and unacceptable.”
He said 3,44,54,000 tons of rice have been produced in the country last year, while the country’s annual demand for rice is 2,84,16,710 tons.
He said, “About 1,45,9000 tons of rice and wheat are in stock and 11,13,303 tons are available at state-owned warehouses.”
“One person consumes 469 gram of rice. In this context there are sufficient rice in our stocks,” he said. Rice Mill Owners Association President Abdur Rashid, among others was present.
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Wednesday asked mill owners not to hike rice price.
“The country has an adequate stockpile of rice. There is no reason to increase its prices. If any quarter tries to hike rice price, stern action will be taken against them,” the minister warned during a views exchange meeting with rice mill owners in the Secretariat.
He requested the wholesalers not to raise the price of rice, and lower the price which had already gone up and to guard against price hike once again.
After the meeting, the minister told the journalists that a cell had been formed to monitor the market round the clock.
He said also that the wholesale traders had been given necessary directives to keep rice market stable.
Replying to a query, Sadhan Chandra said if the transport strike continues even for 10 days, there will be no shortages of rice. There is no reason of price hiking of the commodity.
The minister said, “We are thinking about export of rice instead of import. In such situation hiking of rice price is totally unreasonable and unacceptable.”
He said 3,44,54,000 tons of rice have been produced in the country last year, while the country’s annual demand for rice is 2,84,16,710 tons.
He said, “About 1,45,9000 tons of rice and wheat are in stock and 11,13,303 tons are available at state-owned warehouses.”
“One person consumes 469 gram of rice. In this context there are sufficient rice in our stocks,” he said. Rice Mill Owners Association President Abdur Rashid, among others was present.
