Daily Sun Report, Dhaka

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Private importers will have to market 124,000 tonnes of rice by 15 May after bringing in the consignments under a new government notification issued to tame elevated domestic prices.

The food ministry had issued a similar order last month allowing in imports of 83,000 toness of rice by private traders. A month earlier, the National Board of Revenue had already reduced tariffs on rice imports to encourage relevant purchases private traders.

Under the latest order, private importers can bring in 91,000 tonnes of parboiled rice and 33,000 tonnes sunned rice, the food ministry said Tuesday.

Over the last month, prices of coarse rice, consumed mostly by low-income people, rose 2% to hit the range of Tk48-Tk52 per kg in the capital.

Price of medium and fine grains also increased too, according to market price data collected by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.

To check potentials of hoarding and market manipulation, the food ministry has ordered the private importers to inform district food controllers about the quantity of imported rice, stocks and marketing.

Furthermore, the imports cannot be repackaged in the name of the proprietor’s organization, and has to be sold in special imported bags.

Published Date: April 17, 2024