Minister asks traders to lower rice price or face music
Special Correspondent :
The government on Wednesday asked rice traders to reduce rice price within next four days otherwise they will have to face the music.
In the last four days, rice price increased abnormally by Tk 5-8 per kg in the markets.
Besides, Tk 250-300 per maund of paddy has also been increased in the same period as the government didn’t find any reason for hiking the price at this moment.
Against this backdrop, the Food Ministry organized a views exchange meeting with the country’s rice millers, wholesale and retail traders and their representatives at the Directorate General of Food (DG Food) conference room.
However, the country’s major rice mills and suppliers are-Raipur Auto Rice Mills, Majumder Group of Industries, Razzak Group, Kazi Auto Rice Mill, Rashid Aagro Food Products Ltd., Zihan Auto Rice Mills Limited, Khan Auto Rice & Muri MillL, AR. SP. Auto Rice Mills, Sahera Auto Rice Mills Limited, Square Food and ACI Food.
It is alleged that the millers and suppliers have involved in increasing the rice price through syndication.
Warning the rice traders of taking punitive measures, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Wednesday asked to reduce rice price within next four days.
“When the government was busy with election, the traders and millers
have increased rice price Tk6 per kilogram within four days.
Now, I am giving you the ultimatum to decrease the price within next four days.
Otherwise, stringent punitive legal actions will be taken,” the minister said while exchanging views with the country’s rice millers, wholesale and retail traders and their representatives at the Directorate General of Food (DG Food) conference room.
Sadhan Chandra Majumder said, “You have increased the price rapidly then and now you reduce it promptly.
Otherwise strict legal action will be taken, because the price hike was illogical. It’s the season of Aman harvesting. So there was no reason to price hike of rice during the season.”
“If you failed to decrease rice price, rice will be imported from abroad. The government will import rice, if necessary.
We are negotiating with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to import rice with zero (0) import tax,” he stated.
The logic of the traders to price hike of rice is not acceptable, the minister said, adding, “I cannot be agreed with the logic of the traders for increasing rice price as it’s the full season of Aman harvesting.
They have increased the price suddenly during the formation of a new government. The illogical and unethical tasks of the traders should not be accepted. They must have to reduce the price.”
“A section of errant traders have been stockpiling rice with the mentality of pocketing profits. It’s a major problem, if you don’t have honesty and conscience.
The price cannot be increased Tk6 per kg by only four days. The target of extra profit has not turned into voracity.
It cannot be tolerated,” he added. In the meeting, the minister inquired that whether the traders would be able to decrease the rice price by four days.
All of the millers, traders and their representatives have given commitment to decrease the price within next four days.
Requesting them to keep their commitment, Sadhan Chandra Majumder said, “Some of the traders have been stockpiling rice illegally without any food grade license.
Drives will be operated against them and will be arrested. Special drives have already started. Whoever the illegal hoarders are, they will not be spared.”
In the meeting, the minister, who has assumed the office on January 11 for the second consecutive period, instructed the divisional, regional and district food controllers to start vigilance from today.
“Start strict vigilance from tomorrow. So that, no one can does rice business without food grade license. Catch the illegal hoarders and bring them to the government authorities.
Bring their illegal stockpiles to the government godowns and seal the illegal godowns where they have been stockpiling,” he asked.
