Rice Imports

Pierre Bamin/Unsplash Representational Image

Bangladesh imports 1,00,000 tonnes of rice from India

It said a total of 56,391 tonnes of rice reached the country on Tuesday (February 2) through various land ports of the country including Bhomra, Darshana, Benapole, Sona Masjid, Hili, Burimari, Banglabandha and Sheola. Besides, 55,129 tonnes of rice has come under the open tender system.

The Ministry of Food has so far allowed a total of 320 individuals / institutions to import 1 million 14 thousand 500 tons of rice on various conditions at the private level. Later the letter of permission was sent to the Ministry of Commerce.

One lakh five thousand tonnes in favor of 10 individuals / institutions on January 3, one lakh sixty thousand tonnes in favor of 12 organizations and seventy-five thousand tonnes in favor of seven companies on January 5, one lakh sixty-four thousand five hundred tons in favor of 49 organizations. The Ministry of Food allowed the import of one lakh seventy-one thousand five hundred tonnes of rice in favor of 64 companies on January 10.

Then on January 10, in the second phase, one lakh 41 thousand tons of rice was allowed to be imported in favor of 72 companies, on January 13, one lakh six thousand five hundred tons of rice was allowed in favor of 43 companies and on January 16, 91 thousand tons of rice was allowed in favor of 63 companies.

This time the price of coarse rice has reached Tk 50 in the aman season. The price of rice has made the common man miserable. In this situation, the government took initiative to import rice in a controlled manner by reducing the import duty on rice.

At the private level, the government reduced the import duty on rice from 62.50 percent to 25 percent. The Ministry of Food had asked the legal importers to apply to the Ministry of Food by January 10 with all the necessary documents for privately importing rice.