Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder

Barind region's mangoes to be marketed globally for export

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Friday said that the government is working to introduce the mangoes of the Barind region Sapahar to the global market. “Sapahar in the Barind region, which was once out of cultivation, is now cultivating a lot of mangoes. The large mango market is here now,” he said. Also read: Strict action if anyone tries to destabilise rice market: Food Minister The minister made this remark at a workshop on safe production, collection, packing, transportation and marketing of mangoes at Sapahar Upazila Parishad auditorium, said a PID handout here. “The delicious mangoes of this region need to be branded,” he added. Mango growers are being made aware about safe production, marketing and conservation, so that they can deliver safe mangoes to the consumers, said the minister. Also read:Rice cannot be packaged for sale after buying those from open market: Minister “Our aim is to build a healthy, beautiful and talented nation. To that end, the government has enacted the Safe Food Act,” he added, urging consumers to be aware of food safety.

Rice cannot be packaged for sale after buying those from open market: Minister

The government will not allow packaging of rice for sale after buying those from open market, said Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Wednesday. He also blamed six major industrial groups – Square Group, Pran Group, City Group, Akij Group, Bashundhara Group and ACI Group - for the sudden rise in rice prices in the country's market. “We are planning whether a circular can be issued restricting sale of rice in packets after buy those from the domestic market,” he said in a response to a question from reporters on the rice prices hike at the Secretariat. Also read: Strict action if anyone tries to destabilise rice market: Food Minister “They may import rice paying 67 percent tax and sell those in packets. It is under discussion.” “We have prepared a summary of the circular to send it to the Prime Minister. Besides, the Agriculture Secretary, the Food Secretary, the Commerce Secretary and the Industry Secretary will hold a meeting over the issue,” said the minister. If these companies have their own mill they can pack rice there. But the government will not allow the rice to be packaged after being collected from the market, he added. Even if the industries have their own mill, they will not be able to stockpile rice beyond the approved amount as mentioned in license, said the minister. On Monday, the Food Ministry launched a drive against illegal rice hoarders on instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to keep the price within the purchasing capacity of consumers and to keep the supply normal. She was also ordered taking action if anyone stockpiles rice illegally. The food minister said they received information of illegal rice hoarding by Square Group and Akij Group in two places of the country. “We have found an extra 5,000 metric tonnes of rice worth Tk 40 crore in a godown of Square Group in Dinajpur,” he said. And the godown has been sealed and the authorities have been sued, he added. Also read:Drives against illegal rice hoarders begin Six companies were found to pack rice for sale at Tk 80-85 per kg after buying those at Tk 60-65 per kg in Naogaon, Dinajpur, Bogura districts. “We have also found that those who are not rice traders are also stockpiling rice including brick kilns owners and primary school teachers,” he added. He also urged the consumers not to stockpile rice for 4-5 months making the market unstable. Sadhan Chandra also said the price will be normalised by importing rice if necessary to punish the rice syndicate. He said, “We harvested Boro, then Aush will be harvested, and by this time Aman season will arrive.”

Govt to buy 11.50 lakh mts Boro rice

The government has decided to procure 11.50 lakh metric tonnes of rice (boiled and non-boiled) and 6.50 lakh metric tonnes of paddy during the ongoing Boro season. Some 10 lakh metric tonnes of boiled rice will be procured at Tk 40 per kg, 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of non-boiled (atap) rice at Tk 39 per kg and 6.50 lakh metric tonnes of paddy at Tk 27 per kg. Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder came up with the information while talking to reporters at a virtual programme on Monday. Read Govt plans to import rice to keep market stable: Ministry The procurement of boro paddy will start from April 28, rice from May 7 and will continue till August 31. On April 22, the decisions were made at a virtual meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee, chaired by Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder. Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Health Minister Zahid Maleque, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim, Enamur Rahman, the state minister for disaster management and relief, among others, attended the meeting through a videoconference. Read Cabinet purchase body approves import of 50,000MT rice Last year, the government set a target to procure 6 lakh metric tonnes of paddy and 11 lakh tonnes of rice during boro season.