The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

India has received positive indication from Bangladesh to export 500,000 tons of non-basmati rice through official channel to meet the country's food deficit. "I've got positive indication from Bangladesh government," Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakrabarty told UNB. He said an MoU would have to be signed by the two government agencies before starting procurement of rice from internal market of India. Earlier, Chakrabarty met Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury to convey the Indian government decision to export non-basmati rice up to 500,000 tons to Bangladesh through official channel.

He said the Bangladesh government and any designated agency may initiate negotiations with State Trading Corporation of India (STC), MMTC or MAFED for procurement of rice without delay as it is the procurement season in India.

Replying to a question, the High Commissioner said the Indian government would not allow any private agency to procure the rice to ensure that price of rice does not go up in his own country. Moreover, he said, it would be cost effective for Bangladesh too if the rice is imported through any of the three Indian official agencies. The agencies will not make any profit barring purchasing cost from domestic market, transportation and commission. The Indian government decided to lift ban on export of 500,000 tons of rice to Bangladesh in the wake of November 15 cyclone that seriously damaged the paddy in southern coastal region. Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced his government's decision during his visit to Dhaka on December 1.