Chattogram: Food adviser Ali Imam Mazumder today announced that rice prices are expected to decrease gradually due to the government’s concerted efforts. “The overall prices of commodities will be within a tolerable level during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan as the government has set a target of importing 8 to 9 lakh metric tonnes of rice from different countries this year,” the adviser stated.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mazumder made these remarks while speaking to journalists after overseeing the unloading activities of imported rice from Myanmar at Chattogram port. He also visited the construction site of a new rice silo in Patenga. The government has launched a comprehensive program aimed at supporting 50 lakh working-class individuals from urban to rural areas. As part of this initiative, each beneficiary will receive 30 kgs of rice at Tk 15 per kg, continuing for two months.
Mazumder highlighted ongoing discussions with Vietnam and a finalized agreement with Pakistan to import additional rice, while also exploring other potential sources. “We are not going to mingle the trade with politics. We are importing 1.5 lakh tonnes of rice from Myanmar, which has already offered us to sell more. We are giving priority to importing rice from the nearest neighbouring countries that have shown interest in exporting their commodities,” Mazumder explained, citing the low price of rice in neighboring countries as a key factor.
Addressing farmers’ hesitance to sell paddy and rice to the government due to higher market prices, Mazumder noted, “The government has fixed an official price considering the farmer’s production cost and profit. Fixing the price in advance will also affect the market price.”
Present at the briefing were Director General of the Directorate of Food Md Abdul Khaleque, Director of SILO Department Md Mahbubur Rahman, Ctg Regional Controller of Food S M Kaiser Ali, SILO In-charge Rakibul Hasan, and District Controller of Food Sumaiya Nazneen.