Prices of rice and paddy have increased by Tk. 100 to Tk. 120 per maund since the beginning of the new year. In this backdrop, the government has decided to discuss the issue with traders on Thursday.

The newly appointed food minister, Sadhan Chandra Majumder, said yesterday (Tuesday) that his ministry would show zero tolerance for corruption and not compromise on the issue. The minister was talking to reporters after joining office for the first time after taking oath. Officials of the food ministry welcomed him at noon.

Kitchen markets are becoming unstable as prices of paddy and rice have sharply increased in the last few days. The price of rice has risen by Tk. 2 to Tk. 6 per kg compared to last week and Tk. 100 to Tk. 300 per 50-kg sack (depending on the variety).

It is alleged that a syndicate of rice mill owners are involved in hiking the price.

When asked about the price hike, the minister said: “I will discuss the matter with the secretary. I have decided to meet presidents of district level rice mill owners' associations, general secretaries and leaders of rice traders' associations on Thursday. I

will discuss with them why  prices of rice and paddy have increased.”

Saying his job was "very sensitive", Majumder added: “It’s a large ministry. I don’t know why the Prime Minister has selected me for the Food Ministry. It is very complicated as people always blame the ministry if prices of rice fall by Tk. 2 or increase by Tk. 2.”

The minister said he had reached the present position by working with utmost sincerity and honesty. “I am seeking your cooperation so that I can discharge my duties with honesty and sincerity. I want to remove irregularities from the ministry,” he said.

The minister said from the post of Union Parishad chairman he has now become the food minister. “It's a teamwork. Many files will pass through the secretary. But I hope these would be handled with honesty after appraisal by me,” the minister said.

There are allegations that many departments under the ministry are involved in corruption, he said.

He will look into the allegations and do the needful, he added.