With BSCIC authorities’ approval, a letter signed by BSCIC General Manager and Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (CIDD) Project Director Akhil Ranjan Tarafder, directed the price reduction of potassium iodate (iodine) and informed the officials and salt mill owners working in eight salt zones of BSCIC on 20 January, 2021.
BSCIC, only company to import potassium iodate from abroad as per the demand of salt factories and provides at a price fixed by the government.
In the 2017-18 financial year, the price of potassium iodate was reduced from Tk4700 per kg to Tk3000. BSIC chairman, Md. Mushtaq Hasan directed to supply to the salt factories at a price of Rs 2,500 per kg to help the factories.
Potassium iodate is used in iodising salt. It is not produced in Bangladesh, needs to be imported from abroad. About 80-90 grams potassium iodate is required per ton of salt to add moderate amount of iodine. About 30 metric tons of potassium iodate is used every year to add iodine into salt.
This is one of the various steps taken by the government to save the country's salt industry. BSCIC is working to convince hundred percent of people to use moderate amounts of iodised salt. Price lowering of potassium iodate will help propel the salt industry one step further. BSIC authorities believe that salt factory owners will be self-motivated to ensure moderate iodine mixture in salt.
Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (CIDD) Project is a public health project implemented by BSIC at the initiative of the Ministry of Industries.
