United News of Bangladesh

In a move to control rising rice prices and stabilise the market, the government has authorised 242 private companies to import a total of 5 lakh metric tonnes of rice, including both parboiled and uncooked varieties. A letter from the Ministry of Food was sent to the Commerce Ministry on Sunday, requesting permission in favour of the allocated companies, according to a press release. Of the total volume, 4.61 lakh tonnes will be parboiled rice and 39,000 tonnes uncooked rice. All imported rice must contain no more than 5 percent broken grains. As per the conditions, importers must ensure the entire allocated quantity is marketed within Bangladesh by 30 September. In addition, detailed information regarding the quantity, warehousing, and distribution must be submitted to the respective District Food Controller. The letter also specifies that no Import Permit (IP) may be issued or used beyond the approved allocation. Rice procurement faces disruption due to 0.5% source tax Imported rice must be sold in original packaging—repackaging under a different company name is prohibited. This measure is part of the government’s pre-emptive strategy to maintain price stability amid concerns that Aman rice production may be impacted by recent flooding. The decision was finalised at a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee, held at the Secretariat on 15 July.

Another consignment of 10,850 metric tonnes (MTs) of Indian parboiled rice arrived at the country’s premier seaport, Chattogram Port on Thursday. A vessel ‘MV HT UNITE’ carrying the consignment docked at the port, said a media release sent from the Ministry of Food.   Earlier, Bangladesh decided to import 500, 000 MTs of rice from India through international open tenders. Meanwhile, import contracts have been made to bring 450,000 MTs of rice under nine packages. Fire halts Dhaka-Mymensingh train services as bogie burns in Gazipur Bangladesh has so far received 306,769 MTs of rice from India as per the deals. The quality testing of the newly arrived rice has been completed, and necessary measures have been taken to begin unloading operations promptly, reads the release. 

A cargo vessel arrived at Chittagong Port from Vietnam carrying 29,000 tonnes of rice on Saturday. The vessel, MV OBE Dinares with rice brought under the G2G agreement signed on February 3,  anchored  at Chittagong Port, said a Food Ministry press release on Saturday. Govt expands subsidised sale of Ramadan essentials The testing of samples of rice stored on the ship has already been completed and the process of unloading the rice will begin soon, it added. An agreement was signed to import a total of 1 lakh metric tons of rice from Vietnam on a G2G basis. Of this, a total of 30,300 metric tons of rice in two consignments have already arrived in the country.

Despite a steady inflow of rice from India, local market prices in Bangladesh have remained persistently high, causing concerns among middle-to-low income consumers, particularly in Khulna. Over the past four months, from 13 November 2024 to 13 March 2025, approximately 1.43 lakh metric tonnes of rice have been imported through the Bhomra land port in Satkhira under the 2024-25 fiscal year, Food Ministry officials here said. Illegal brick kilns in Khulna: A silent peril to environment and public health But the expected fall in market prices has not been seen, leaving consumers increasingly frustrated. In an attempt to stabilise the market, the Food Ministry approved 90 importers to bring in duty-free rice under a special quota from India, according to the officials. Despite these measures, there has been no tangible impact on local prices. According to officials at Bhomra land port, the government has taken various initiatives, including international open tenders, to regulate prices and bolster food security. Under Package 5 of the open tender for the 2024-25 fiscal year, the government approved the procurement of 50,000 metric tonnes of non-Basmati boiled rice at Tk 55.06 per kg, amounting to a total cost of Tk 275.30 crore, the officials mentioned. The rice, imported from India’s Marsos Bagdia Brothers Pvt. Ltd., was purchased at $458.84 per tonne. Despite these large-scale imports, the prices in the local market have remained unstable, raising concerns over potential market manipulation. Surge in substandard products in Bangladesh exposes gaps in govt oversight Unrelenting Price Surge With the onset of Ramadan, rice prices have surged further, rising by Tk 4-5 per kg in the local markets. This increase has placed an additional burden on low-income families, for whom rice is a staple dietary component. Consumers have voiced their dissatisfaction, pointing out that repeated government interventions have failed to curb price hikes. Daily wage earners and low-income households are struggling to afford rice, even though other essentials like vegetables remain within reach. Anwar Hossain, a rice trader at Sultanpur Boro Bazar, observed that prices had increased across all varieties. “The price of 28-category rice, which was Tk 65 per kg before Ramadan, has now risen to Tk 70. Similarly, miniket rice has gone up from Tk 72 to Tk 76 per kg, while coarse rice, previously Tk 52 per kg, is now Tk 56. Even Basmati rice has increased from Tk 84 to Tk 88 per kg,” he said. Imported Indian rice is available at Tk 58 per kg, yet it has failed to attract strong consumer demand. “Despite continuous imports, market prices remain unaffected, and there is little hope of a reduction during Ramadan. But prices might drop once fresh rice supplies enter the market,” Anwar added. 14 Top Rice Varieties in Bangladesh Bhomra Port’s Role in Rice Imports Bhomra land port has played a significant role in Bangladesh’s import-export trade due to its strategic proximity to Kolkata, which reduces transportation time and costs. Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Commissioner of Customs at Bhomra, said that the port’s well-connected transportation network enables swift distribution of imported goods across the country. Md Ruhul Amin, Deputy Director (Traffic) of Bhomra Land Port, emphasised the efficiency of the port’s operations, stating that customs officials ensure quick clearance of rice-laden trucks to facilitate a smooth supply chain. Sundarbans at stake as erosion shrinks forest land Will Prices Drop? Despite the government’s persistent efforts to control the market, rice prices remain high, adding to the hardships of ordinary citizens, the officials said. While policymakers continue to explore solutions, consumers remain sceptical, awaiting a potential decline in prices as new rice stocks enter the market.

Chattogram, Jan 12 (UNB)-Another consignment of 26, 935 metric tonnes of Indian rice arrived at the country’s premier sea port Chattogram on Sunday morning. With this, the second consignment of rice came from India since the interim government took over the power in August last year. The Panama flag carrying ‘MV SDR Universe’ loaded with the rice anchored at a jetty of Chattogram port via Karnaphuli Channel during a tide around 11:30am, said the port’s Secretary Md Omar Faruk. Fog disrupts ferry services on two key waterways Earlier on January 8, the vessel left Kakinada sea port of Andhra Pradesh State of India. The country received the first consignment of rice from neighbouring India on December 26. Bangladesh will import one lakh metric tonnes of rice from India in the first phase as per a Government to Government contract. Death toll from Munshiganj speedboat accident reaches four

A consignment of 24, 690 metric tonnes (MT) of parboiled rice arrived at Chattogram Port from India on Thursday morning. Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Food Md Lutfor Rahman said  Indian vessel ‘MV.TANAIS DREAM’ carrying the rice left Kakinada sea port of Andhra Pradesh on December 22 and anchored at outer anchorage of the Chattogram port on Wednesday. It finally anchored at the Jetty No-11 of the port early Thursday, he said. Read: 24, 690MT Indian rice to arrive Ctg port tomorrow

A consignment of 24, 690 metric tonnes (MT) of parboiled rice will arrive at Chattogram Port from India early Thursday to tame the local market. Indian vessel MV.TANAIS DREAM carrying the consignment will anchor at the sea port around 5:30am, said a media release of the Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday. It is the first batch of rice imports from India since Dr Muhammad Yunus-led interim government assumed office. Read: 3,320 mts rice imported from India thru Benapole in 25 days The consignment of rice is being imported under a deal inked between the countries on November 11. After the physical test  the consignment will be released soon, it reads.

A total of 1030 metric tonnes of rice were imported from India through Benapole port in one week till Wednesday. According to the Benapole land port and customs house, 33 rice-laden trucks entered the land port from November 18 to 27. Deputy assistant officer of Benapole check-post Plant Quarantine Center, Shyamal Kumar Nath, said some 1030 metric tonnes of rice have been imported till November 27. Three rice-laden trucks entered No 31 transshipment yard around 9:30 pm on Wednesday which is supposed to be the last shipment. Already the port authorities unloaded the imported rice after completing the due process on Thursday morning, said deputy director Sajib Najib of the port. Mafizur Rahman, owner of Arka Trading said the government approved import of 2000 metric tonnes of Atap and 3000 metric tonnes of boiled rice and of these, 105 metric tonnes of boiled rice (swarna variety) were imported from India. 100 tonnes of Atap rice imported from India via Banglabandha land port Rashed Chowdhury, owner of Chowdhury auto Rice Mill, said the price of coarse hybrid variety rice is being sold at Tk 46 while Swarna variety Tk 48 at the wholesale market. He also expected that the price of rice may decrease following the availability of the Aman rice in the local market. In an effort to stabilise the rice market amid soaring prices, the government decided to import rice from India. The rice will be imported within December 10.    

Bangladesh imported 6,520.21 metric tonnes (MT) of rice from India through Bhomra Land Port in Satkhira over the past 8 days that authorities hope would help stabilise the country’s rice market. The import began on November 13 after the withdrawal of customs duties on rice imports by the National Board of Revenue (NBR). According to sources at the port authority, after the duty withdrawal, 12 companies approved by the Ministry of Food started importing through Bhomra. Read: 131MT rice imported from India through Hili Land Port Among the imports, Dhaka-based Old Paltan Majumdar Agrotech International imported around 1,861.47 MT of rice in four shipments. These included 770 MT on November 13, 368.5 MT on November 16, 380.97 MT on November 17, and 342 MT on November 18. Mukul Enterprise from Kalai of Satkhira, imported 300 MT in three shipments: 100 MT each on November 13, 14, and 17. Ismail Hossain Milon from Jhikargacha of Jashore, imported 100 MT on November 13, while Abul Monsur Khan from Bogura brought in a total of 500 MT across three dates: 150 MT on November 14 and 16, and 200 MT on November 18. Abu Musa, general secretary of Bhomra Customs C&F Agents Association, said the Indian government had imposed a ban on rice exports to Bangladesh on July 20, 2023. Read: Rice import from India through Benapole port resumes after 2 years Recently the country lifted the ban allowing export to Bangladesh, he said. Abul Kalam Azad, deputy commissioner of Bhomra Land Customs Station, 6,520.21 MT of rice was imported from India through the port in eight days from November 13. If this trend continues, rice imports through this port will increase in the future, he said.

The government will import 100,000 metric tons (MT) of rice from the international market. The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase, in a meeting with Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in the chair, approved two separate proposals in this regard. Read more: Rice, wheat import: Bangladesh Bank asks banks to keep minimum LC margin According to one proposal, placed by the Food Ministry, the Directorate General of Food will import 50,000 MT of non-Basmati boiled rice from M/S Bagadiya Brothers Pvt. Ltd., India at a cost of Tk 210.35 crore. The supplier was selected through open international tender and each metric ton of rice will cost $393.19 while previous price of similar rice was $443.05. Under another proposal of the same ministry, the Directorate General of Food will import the remaining 50,000 MT of non-Basmati boiled rice from M/S Agrocorp International Pte. Ltd, Singapore at a cost of Tk 213.40 crore. Read more: Cabinet purchase body approves import of 50,000MT rice The supplier was selected through open international tender and each metric ton of rice will cost $397. 03 while the previous price of similar rice was $393.19.