Staff Correspondent

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Food, as of November 17, the government holds over 1.31 million tons of food grains. This includes nearly 1.17 million tons of rice, 138,140 tons of wheat, and 98 tons of paddy.

The government has a food stock of just over 1.3 million tons, combining rice, wheat, and paddy. Of this amount, nearly 1.2 million tons are rice. Just three and a half months ago, public food stocks were more than 2.1 million tons. To handle the situation, the government has initiated a plan to import an additional 300,000 tons of rice from the international market. The move aims to keep rice prices stable and ensure sufficient supplies for the food assistance program. However, analysts argue that the aman harvesting season is currently underway and fresh rice will soon enter the market. So, large-scale imports are unnecessary at this stage, and the government should instead focus on purchasing more rice directly from farmers.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Food, as of November 17, the government holds over 1.31 million tons of food grains. This includes nearly 1.17 million tons of rice, 138,140 tons of wheat, and 98 tons of paddy. Marking one year of the interim government in August 2025, the ministry reported stocks of 2.13 million tons of food grains, including 1.95 million tons of rice. At that time, the ministry announced a target to import 500,000 tons of rice and 400,000 tons of wheat by December. Two days later, the Advisory Council Committee on Economic Affairs approved a proposal to shorten procurement timelines under public procurement rules to purchase 400,000 tons of rice through international tenders for state emergency requirements.

Current stocks are 800,000 tons lower than in August. In response, the government has again moved toward importing rice from the global market. At a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Economic Affairs at the Secretariat on November 18, chaired by Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, the Food Ministry placed two procurement proposals for purchasing rice and wheat. The committee recommended giving policy approval to import 300,000 tons of rice following international open tendering, using Rule 102(1)(a) of the Public Procurement Rules 2025, which allows shortening of the procurement timeframe for state emergencies. It also approved, in principle, the purchase of 300,000 tons of wheat on a G2G basis under Section 68(1) of the Public Procurement Act 2006 and Section 99(2) of the Public Procurement Rules 2025.

At a separate meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Purchase the same day, approval was given to buy 50,000 tons of non-Basmati parboiled rice. The rice will be purchased from Singapore-based Aditya Birla Global Trading Pte Ltd. (AGBT) at a cost of around BDT 2.16 billion, with the per-ton price set at $354.19.

The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) estimates that Bangladesh’s annual rice demand ranges between 35 million and 38 million tons. Production shortfalls — often caused by floods and other natural disasters — are met through imports from abroad. Last year, when floods damaged rice production, both government and private importers stepped in to fill the gap, supported by reduced import duties. According to the food ministry, Bangladesh imported 1.3 million tons of rice in FY 2024–25, of which 835,000 tons came through government channels. Private importers brought in nearly 470,000 tons. The country imported 6.2 million tons of wheat during the same period.

Food ministry sources say compared to 2024, the duration of the government’s food assistance programme has been extended from five months to six in 2025. The first phase ran from August to November. The programme will pause during December and January before resuming for two months in February and March in 2026. The one-month-extended-period has naturally increased rice demand. To maintain adequate supplies in the market and keep prices within reach, the government wants to secure import approvals in advance so that rice can be brought in quickly if needed.

Md Jamal Hossain, additional director general (current charge) of the Directorate General of Food (DG Food), told Bonik Barta, “Rice prices in the international market are currently at a reasonable level. In such a situation, boosting stocks through imports is not a bad option. Although we already have adequate reserves, an additional buffer allows us to stay secure. Besides, extending the food assistance program by one month has increased demand by another 150,000 tons of rice. For that reason, we must maintain sufficient reserves.”

Noting that the government would not purchase all the approved rice at once, he explained, “A single package consists of 50,000 tons of rice. After procuring one or two packages, if we see that stocks are adequate and market prices remain tolerable, the government may decide not to proceed further—even with prior approval in place. In this case, there is a matter of taking a strategic position from the government. Aman procurement will begin on Thursday, which will further strengthen our stocks. So, there is no reason for concern regarding rice reserves.”

The government has set a target to procure 700,000 tons of rice and paddy for the 2025–26 aman season. This includes 600,000 tons of parboiled rice, 50,000 tons of atap rice, and 50,000 tons of paddy. Procurement prices have been fixed at BDT 50 per kg for parboiled rice, BDT 49 per kg for atap rice, and BDT 34 per kg for paddy. The procurement drive will run from November 20, 2025, to February 28, 2026. Last year in the 2024–25 aman season, the government targeted 550,000 tons of parboiled rice, 100,000 tons of atap, and 350,000 tons of paddy.

Agricultural Economist Dr. Jahangir Alam Khan told Bonik Barta, “Aman harvesting is underway, and new rice will reach the market within a couple of weeks. At this moment, there is no need to import rice. Wheat, however, must be imported because we have a shortage in this case. However, if the government believes international rice prices are low now and a domestic shortage can be faced in the future, then it may opt for imports. But the amount of Aman rice that will be produced in the country this year will not cause any shortage of rice. We must remember one thing that when we import rice from abroad by spending foreign currency, the benefit goes to producers of those countries. Rice prices have already started to fall in the domestic market, and Aman supply will increase in the coming days. Unnecessary imports will decrease prices in the local market, and farmers will suffer. So, strengthening local production and increasing direct procurement from farmers would benefit domestic producers.”

Mentioning the low procurement target for this aman season, Dr. Jahangir Alam added, “Rice is mainly procured from millers, which benefits them the most. Besides, because of procurement pressure from the government, millers can’t supply enough rice. As a result, the market price isn’t affected significantly. limiting the impact on market prices. This is why the government should prioritize direct procurement of paddy from farmers. Farmers will benefit in this way.”

Published Date: November 20, 2025