Monir Hossain, Benapole Correspondent:
13,968 metric tons of rice have been imported from India through Benapole land port in three months under duty-free facilities. While rice imports from India are normal, prices are not decreasing in the markets of Jessore including Benapole. On the contrary, the price of rice in the local market has increased by one to two taka per kilogram from the previous week depending on the type. In this situation, the deadline for rice import from India has been extended again. The institutions allocated for import will be able to import rice from India until March 15.
This information was given in a press release of the Food Ministry on February 5. The release signed by Joint Secretary of the Food Ministry Md. Lutfar Rahman said that the deadline for opening letters of credit (LC) in favor of the institutions allocated for the private import of non-basmati parboiled rice and atap rice has been extended until March 15.
Rice importers say that the price of imported rice is rising due to the high price of rice in India. As a result, they have to sell it at a higher price. In this situation, they see no possibility of the price coming down.
Buyers say that there is currently no rice crisis in the country. Aman rice arrived in farmers' houses a few months ago. Even then, the common people have to buy rice at high prices. Many have fallen into financial crisis due to this. The common people are angry at not being able to buy rice at a low price. They believe that the prices are not decreasing due to the formation of syndicates. Buyers said that the prices are increasing especially due to the lack of a monitoring system to control the market.
Traders say that the price of rice has reached such a level that hard-working people are suffering. Currently, due to the high prices of goods, low-income people are having to go through the day without eating. The price of rice is increasing almost every day, along with everyday goods. There is no product in every market whose price has not increased.
It was learned from the importers that after the announcement of withdrawal of duty on rice imports, 13,968 metric tons of rice were imported through Benapole in the three months from November 17 last year to February 13 this year. The government approved the import of 392,000 metric tons of rice from November 17 to December 22. Since the expected imports did not occur during this period, the time was extended to February 15. Even then, as the price of rice did not decrease in the domestic market, the government has extended the time for imports from India by one month until March 15. It is hoped that it will decrease in the future. According to the importers, the price of rice in India is high. Due to this, it is not possible to sell imported rice at a low price in the market.
The price of rice is high this season, which is why the price of rice is not decreasing, say auto rice mill owners and rice traders. Rashed Chowdhury, owner of Chowdhury Rice Mill, the largest rice warehouse in Navaran Bazar, said that coarse rice is being sold at 51 taka and fine rice at 53 taka per kg. New paddy rice has started coming to the market. Imports are also normal. However, this time production has decreased due to heavy rains. Therefore, imports will continue.
It was seen on the spot in some rice mills in Sharsha, including Benapole, that the mill owners could not buy the expected paddy. Farmers have stockpiled paddy in the hope of increasing prices. However, the mill owners are buying paddy from other districts. The cost of making rice from this paddy is over 50 taka and the cost of making fine rice is around 63 taka. This is what the mill owners are saying.
Benapole Bazar wholesale rice trader Hafizur Rahman said that currently coarse rice is being sold at Tk 52, diamond rice at Tk 48, unpanchas rice at Tk 56, atash 59-60, jeerashail at Tk 76, miniket at Tk 67, Indian miniket at Tk 76, basmati at Tk 93-95, pajama at Tk 57, swarna at Tk 54-56 and Nazirshail at Tk 83 in the retail market.
Abdul Mannan, who came to buy rice at Benapole market, said, "There is sufficient rice stock in the country, and it is being imported from India. Why is the price not coming down? Every year at this time, when new rice is harvested, the price of rice in the market drops a lot. But this time the market picture is different. It is necessary to investigate whether there is any manipulation by the syndicate."
Another rice buyer, Rezaul Islam, said, "Sufficient paddy was cultivated last season. Still, the price is not coming down. We are poor people. How can we survive if the price does not come down? Maybe the price is not coming down because of the syndicate. So I think that if the administration increases surveillance in the market, the price will come down a lot."
Abu Taher, revenue officer of Benapole Checkpost Customs Cargo Branch, said, eight rice importing companies imported 13,968 metric tons of rice from November 17 to February 13. 92 companies were allowed to import across the country. They were allowed to import 273,000 metric tons of parboiled rice and 119,000 metric tons of raw rice. Many companies could not import within this period. The government set a 25-day deadline to market the imported rice. Later, it was extended to February 15. However, imports are progressing slowly. The government has extended the deadline by another month as there is not enough imports.
Benapole Land Port Assistant Director Kazi Ratan said, "In the three months from November 17 last year to February 13 this year, 13,968 metric tons of rice were imported through Benapole with duty-free facilities. Since rice is a daily commodity and the demand in the domestic market is huge, we are making arrangements to quickly release the imported rice as soon as it arrives at the port." #
Sender: Md. Monir Hossain.
Benapole, Jessore.
