Staff Correspondent . Chattogram

Interim government’s food adviser Ali Imam Majumder said that the government was prioritising trade over politics, welcoming imports from neighbouring countries like India, Myanmar, and Pakistan due to their proximity and lower costs.

He made the remarks on Tuesday while inspecting the unloading operations of imported food grains at Chattogram Port.

Earlier on the day, he visited the under-construction silo in the city’s Patenga area.

He said, ‘We have signed a contract to import 100,000 tonnes of rice from Myanmar, and they are ready to sell more. We will evaluate their internal supply situation before proceeding further. Additionally, we have arranged to import 50,000 tonnes of rice from Pakistan and are exploring other sources, including Vietnam.’

On the total amount of rice being imported, Ali Imam Majumder said, ‘We aim to bring in 800,000 to 900,000 tonnes of rice. Of this, around 800,000 tons will be imported through government channels from India, Myanmar, Pakistan, and possibly Vietnam.’ 

When asked about the persistent high rice prices despite continuous imports, Ali Imam Majumder said, ‘The good news is that price hikes have stopped. The price of coarse rice has dropped by Tk 3-5 per kilogram. We will continue to import more, ensuring no further price increases and creating scope for price reductions.’ 

With Ramadan approaching and concerns over potential price hikes of food items, Ali Imam Majumder said, ‘During Ramadan, the Ministry of Food primarily oversees the supply of rice and wheat. Other items are managed by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, under the Ministry of Commerce, which has taken extensive preparations.’ 

‘To support low-income groups, food-friendly programmes for 5 million people have been launched. These individuals can buy 30 kilograms of rice per month at Tk 15 per kilogram. Additionally, from this month, two metric tonnes of rice are being sold daily at the upazila level, a practice that will continue during Ramadan. We hope these measures will keep commodity prices stable.’

During the visit, Chattogram divisional commissioner Md Ziauddin, director general of food Abdul Khaleque, and Chittagong Port Authority chairman SM Moniruzzaman were also present.

Published Date: January 22, 2025