DHAKA, Dec 04, 2024 (BSS) – The government has allowed the private sector to import 3.92 lakh metric tonnes of rice within this month, aiming to keep rice price stable in the retail market across the country, according to a food ministry.

A total of 92 private rice importers have already got the government approval to import the 3.92 lakh metric tonnes of rice, which includes 2.73 lakh metric tonnes  of boiled and another 1.19 lakh metric tonnes of non-boiled ‘Atap’ rice.

With this latest order,  the food ministry has given permission to some 277 private sector companies separately for the fourth times to import a total of 14.81 lakh metric tonnes of boiled and non-boiled ‘Atap’ rice within this month.

“We have approved 92 private sector companies to import 3.92 lakh MT of boiled and non-boiled ‘Atap’ rice aiming to keep rice price stable in the retail market,” said M Habibur Rahman Hosaini, additional secretary (procurement and supply) of the food ministry.

The order has been issued almost two weeks ago to import the amount of rice immediately with a view to covering the gap of current Aman harvest, which is likely to end by the end of this month, said the official.

The private importers must supply the rice in retail markets within December 22, according to the order.

“The importers have to sell these amounts of rice in sacks directly in the market instead of re-packaging by the imported companies,” said the official.

While talking to BSS, Rice Arotder Samity General Secretary Nirod Baran Saha said, “The government’s rice import decision would reduce the rice price further in the market. Even the import also will affect the newly harvested paddy price as the price of per kg paddy is now at Taka 36 to Taka 36.50.”

Earlier, the food ministry had allowed 185 private sector companies to import around 10.89 lakh metric tonnes of rice –where 7.92 lakh metric tonnes were boiled and the rest 2.97 lakh metric tonnes were non-boiled ‘Atap’ rice.

The importers were asked to sell those amounts of rice by December 10.

The public sector accumulated food storage till Wednesday was at 10,88,351 metric tonnes–where  some 6,66,728 metric tonnes of rice , 4,21,171 metric tonnes of wheat and the rest 681 metric tonnes of paddy.