P-8

TDS Desk:

A total of 1030 metric tonnes of rice were imported from India through Benapole port in one week.

According to the Benapole land port and customs house, 33 rice-laden trucks entered the land port from November 18 to 27.

Deputy assistant officer of Benapole check-post Plant Quarantine Center, Shyamal Kumar Nath, said some 1030 metric tonnes of rice have been imported till November 27.

Three rice-laden trucks entered No 31 transshipment yard around 9:30 pm on Wednesday which is supposed to be the last shipment.

Already the port authorities unloaded the imported rice after completing the due process on Thursday morning, said deputy director Sajib Najib of the port.

Mafizur Rahman, owner of Arka Trading said the government approved import of 2000 metric tonnes of Atap and 3000 metric tonnes of boiled rice and of these, 105 metric tonnes of boiled rice (swarna variety) were imported from India.

Rashed Chowdhury, owner of Chowdhury auto Rice Mill, said the price of coarse hybrid variety rice is being sold at Tk 46 while Swarna variety Tk 48 at the wholesale market.

He also expected that the price of rice may decrease following the availability of the Aman rice in the local market.

In an effort to stabilise the rice market amid soaring prices, the government decided to import rice from India.

The rice will be imported within December 10.