The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Government cannot assure any immediate relief from rice price hike but has many things to do to control the situation in order to reduce consumers' suffering, said Finance and Planning Adviser Dr A B Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday.

"It is hard reality that the current rice price hike is not possible to control immediately due to higher rate in the international market. But I am not ready to admit that the Government has nothing to do over the soaring price. The government is trying its best to keep the rice prices at a stable level," he said.

According to him, the Government already has undertaken several steps to ease consumers' sufferings with immediate effect. Additional 15000 tons rice allocation to BDR conducted fair-price shops, VGF cards and decision to introduce Open Market Sale (OMS) across the country are among the preventive steps," he added.

Moreover, all District Commissioners (DC's) have been directed to sit with the local businessmen to ensure swift transportation of rice he told reporters after attending the inaugural session of a national seminar on 'Monga' at the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) auditorium.

Responding to a question, Dr Aziz said it would not be a wise decision to waive all duties. "If we do that, the country will suffer a deficit financing that means the economy will get an adverse effect," he said.

"We all have to keep the fact in mind that increasing price of food products, rice in particular, is a current and vital issue in all over the world. It is our misfortune that natural disasters like Sidr and two consecutive floods damaged our crops last year," said Food and Disaster Management Adviser Tapan Chowdhury.

Moreover, price hike by India has put us into even worst situation. But present government is trying its best to make the situation normal, but it will take little time, he ended.

PKSF and Institute of Microfinance (InM) organised the seminar where Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim was present as special guest. PKSF and InM chairman Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud chaired the opening session.