The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Government will import five lakh tons of rice from India through official channel.

Disclosing this at the closing ceremony of the three-day Indo-Bangladesh Dialogue at BRAC Centre in the capital, Food and Disaster Management Adviser Tapan Chowdhury said, "The Governments of the two countries are discussing the issue of five lakh tons of rice import, which will involve huge amount of foreign currency."

It is better to handle such a huge import through Government channel, he added.

Supporting the Adviser's view, Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakrabarti, who was present at the ceremony, said involvement of private sector in the rice import might increase market price.

"The Government can provide subsidy, there by reduce market price," he said, adding that there was a restriction on rice export by sector in India, considering his country's food security.

"There will be no problem if Bangladesh Government imports the rice through bilateral dialogue," the Indian High Commissioner assured.