The government has decided to import 1.5 lakh tonnes of non-Bashmoti parboiled rice from India to meet the country’s demand, as rice prices are on the rise. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Purchase held at the Secretariat yesterday (Wednesday), with finance minister AMA Muhith in the chair.

On October 18, the Cabinet committee had approved the import of one lakh tonne of non-Bashmoti parboiled rice from India. “Bangladesh will import 1.5 lakh tonnes of rice from India at USD 440 per tonne under the G2G process. A total of Tk. 547.80 crore would be needed to import 1.5 lakh tonnes of rice from India in the Bangladesh currency,” Cabinet Division additional secretary Mostafizur Rahman told  reporters after the meeting.

According to Food Directorate sources, the rice price has been fixed at USD 440 per tonne after an understanding between the Indian government enterprise Nafid Ltd and Bangladesh’s procurement committee on the G2G method.

As per the understanding, India will supply the rice within 60 days after opening the L/C and send 15,000 tonnes of rice within 30 days after receiving the L/C as first chalan, said food department officials. India has to supply rice produced in 2017 as per the agreement and 5 per cent of the rice would be broken as per the understanding, they added.

Earlier, the Bangladesh government had decided to import 15 lakh tonnes of rice and five lakh tonnes of wheat to gear up the country’s food grain stock.

Bangladesh has already imported rice from Vietnam and Cambodia.