Low-grade Indian rice unloading at Ctg port suspended again

For the second time within four months, the unloading of substandard Indian rice imported under a government-to-government (G2G) contract has been suspended at the Chattogram port.

The low-quality rice was detected on Thursday in the consignment that came via MV BNC Alpha at jetty no 3 of the port. The shipment was sent by Indian company Nekf India on behalf of the country’s government.

Earlier in August, the unloading of rice, imported from India in the same process, from MV Dragon was suspended for the same reason.

“MV BNC Alpha transported around 7,600 tonnes of rice, of which 700 tonnes were unloaded,” said Md Abdul Kader, controller of movement and storage at the Chattogram food directorate.

He said some rice was found to be of low quality on Thursday, ‍and unloading was then suspended.

“Rice samples were sent to the food directorate higher authorities for testing. Whether unloading will resume will be decided after getting the report,” he added.

The 700 tonnes of rice unloaded from the ship were sent to 10 warehouses in different parts of the country.

The ship reached the port’s outer harbour last week after completing various formalities, including sample collection and testing by a joint team. It was permitted to berth at the jetty on Wednesday.

“Some of the rice in the consignment has become discoloured and the quality will worsen if kept in warehouses for a few months. That is why the rice cannot be unloaded,” explained Kader.

He said the rice that is good could be accepted, but the decision would be made by the higher authorities.

According to the import agreement, the supplier gave an undertaking that there would be a refund if there was any question about the quality of rice, food officials said.

The ship’s local agent Abul Hossain said the vessel sat idle on Friday. “The port authorities will decide whether it will stay at the jetty or be sent to the outer anchorage.”

About 19,200 tonnes of rice that came via MV Dragon were not accepted in August. On August 3, the ship berthed at the jetty.

Around 4,000 tonnes of rice were unloaded and sent to warehouses in different districts, but officials refused to accept it as it was of low quality.

The ship has been waiting at the port’s outer anchorage since then to undergo inspections and other procedures.

The food directorate is importing 1.5 lakh tonnes of rice from India under the G2G agreement this year. The imported rice is tested to know whether it is in good condition before unloading.

But food officials said it is not possible to check the whole consignment, and only a small portion in the upper part is examined.