‘Highest-ever food stock recorded’

Staff Reporter :

Bangladesh is currently holding its highest-ever food stock, with accumulated reserves standing at more than 20.27 lakh metric tonnes, Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder said.

He made the remarks at a press conference at his ministry office in the Secretariat.
The adviser said the food stock as of January 1 this year is higher than that of any of the past five years.
Breaking down the stock, Majumder said it includes about 16,96,787 metric tonnes of rice, 2,33,224 metric tonnes of wheat and 97,409 metric tonnes of paddy.

He noted that the country’s highest food stock in previous years stood at 18.81 lakh metric tonnes in 2022, followed by 18.02 lakh metric tonnes in 2023, 7.26 lakh metric tonnes in 2021, 15.52 lakh metric tonnes in 2024 and 11.44 lakh metric tonnes in 2025.

Referring to surplus stock and procurement, the food adviser said procurement targets were fixed at a Food Monitoring Committee meeting. The targets include procurement of 500 metric tonnes of paddy, 6 lakh metric tonnes of parboiled rice and 57,000 metric tonnes of atap (unpolished) rice.

He said the government has already surpassed these targets, having procured around 1.31 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, 7.32 lakh metric tonnes of parboiled rice and 57,596 metric tonnes of atap rice.

Describing the overall situation as “very comfortable,” Majumder said that by the grace of Almighty Allah, the country’s food situation is highly satisfactory. He added that if the upcoming boro harvest performs better than average, the overall food security situation would remain safe throughout the year.

The food adviser also informed journalists that the government-run public food distribution system is fully active and dynamic, and that all related programmes are being implemented effectively.