PM for more food grain imports from alternative sources

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the authorities concerned to take initiative for importing additional food grains from alternative sources – other than the traditional ones – to avert any possible food crisis.

She gave the directives at a cabinet meeting held on Sunday, adding that if any global supplier fails, the government can import food from alternative sources to ensure food security, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam at a press brief held at the secretariat the same day.

He further said, “The food ministry informed at the meeting that they have already signed agreements with five countries – Russia, India, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – to import food grains.

“Bangladesh needs around 5.6 lakh tonnes of food. The ministry has completed the agreement process with the five countries and work orders were issued.

However, instead of depending only on this arrangement, the prime minister instructed to keep several other alternative sources ready so that no complications arise at the last moment.”

Anwarul then mentioned, “As per the food ministry, the country’s current stock of food grains is more than 19.50 lakh tonnes, and we are in a comfortable situation in terms of the speculated food crisis in November.”

“The agreement to import food has already been completed, and the Aman harvest is coming up too.”

Anwarul Islam said the rice prices have already dropped by Tk 4 – Tk 5 per Kg at the retail level due to the government’s food programmes such as the open market sale (OMS).

“So, the government has made the decision to continue the food programme for the next 3-4 months to keep the market stable,” he added.

The secretary then said, “You all know that rain or water shortages will affect Aman production, but the DCs [deputy commissioners] informed us that the Aman irrigation is getting better due to the recent decision of supplying uninterrupted electricity from midnight to dawn.”

The government had previously announced plans to provide uninterrupted electricity supply to rural areas for 10-15 days at night so that farmers can water their Aman paddy fields.