Focus BanglaFood minister, however, made it clear that whoever intends to import rice will have to apply to his ministry first by January 10Government on Sunday decided to allow private traders to import rice in a desperate bid to offset high rice price in the domestic market. It announced to lower import duty to only 25% from current 62.5% so that private importers can supplement recent government efforts of importing rice by floating international tenders. At a press conference on Sunday morning, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, however, made it clear that whoever intends to import rice will have to apply to his ministry first by January 10. "We, from the ministry, will decide which importer will import what volume of rice," he clarified saying it will be a strictly monitored private sector rice import. Food Secretary Dr Nazmanara Khanum said the government will make sure there is no glut of cheaper rice imported in the market because that will hurt local farmers.

Source: Dhaka Tribune December 27, 2020 06:22 UTC