Dhaka Bureau: Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar has given an ultimatum to traders to reduce the price of rice within the next 4 days. If the price is not reduced within this period, strict action will be taken as per the law.
The minister made the announcement in a meeting with rice mill owners, wholesale and retail traders, and their representatives at the Food Directorate on Wednesday (January 17).
Addressing the rice traders, he said that when the government was busy with the elections, it increased the price of rice by 6 rupees in the country’s market within four days. Now reduce this price in the next 4 days.
The minister said that at that time, you had increased the price by leaps and bounds. Now reduce it like that. If not, strict action will be taken according to the law. This price increase is completely unreasonable. There is no reason to increase the price during the peak season of Aman.
Stating that the arguments of the traders behind the price increase are not acceptable, the food minister said, We cannot accept the arguments given by the traders behind the increase in the price of rice during the peak season. Suddenly, they raised the price of rice abnormally during the formation of the government. They should not accept this immoral act.
He said that unscrupulous traders are hoarding rice. Some traders are only interested in profit. If they don’t have conscience or honesty, then it’s a big problem. There is no way to increase the price by six rupees in four days. It has become greedy.
At this time, he asked the traders whether they could reduce the price within 4 days. The traders then promised the food minister to reduce the prices within 4 days. Then the minister said that this promise should be true.
He said, Now those who have stored paddy and rice without license, we will catch them. The process has already started. Even if the hoarder is my father, no discount will be given.
At this time, the food minister instructed the department and district food controllers and said, “Come to the field tomorrow.” No one can do business without a food-grade license. All hoarders caught illegal stocks and brought them to government godowns. In cases of illegal storage, the mill or warehouse is sealed.
The minister said that everyone should use their conscience, sense of duty, and religious feelings.
He said, despite all these, if the price of rice does not decrease, we will import rice. If necessary, I will import it officially. We are in talks with NBR to import rice at zero duty.
