DHAKA, Jan 22, 2024 (BSS)- Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder today warned that no one will be spared if they stock paddy illegally from their capacity.

"Everyone has to refrain from buying paddy through competition," he said while addressing a meeting with the representatives of six corporate organizations at his office at secretariat here.

The minister said the millers are claiming that the corporate organizations are buying paddy with competition and stocking illegally. The mass media are also blaming the corporate organizations for illegal hoarding, "but we want to know the real fact", he said.

Sadhan said the corporate organizations sell products adding value and for this they are buying paddy with high price. It has a huge impact in the market and the others are also forced to buy paddy with high price, he said.

The minister said rice is available in the market under different brand names, on which the MRP is written. "We want the price of the mills to be written as well. Retailers cannot raise prices suddenly or unreasonably if mill gate prices are written on sacks," the food minister said.

Food secretary Ismail Hossain was present in the meeting.

Representatives of City Group, Square, Pran RFL, Meghna Group, ACI and Akij Essentials took part in the meeting. 

Directorate General of Food DG Md Shakhawat Hossain, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority chairman Abdul Kaium and FPMU DG Md Shahidul Alam, among others, were present in the meeting.