The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chittagong

As part of World Food Programme (WFP) grant, about 20,000 metric tonnes of rice from Japan and Thailand are scheduled to arrive at Chittagong port within a few days.

Another ship has sailed off from India carrying 14,800 metric tonnes of rice also part of WFP grant arrived at the port two days back and five more days will be required to unload the whole consignment, District Controller of Food, Chittagong, Salahuddin Ahmed told BSS yesterday.

He said about 1,000 metric tones of rice laden in containers from China as relief for Sidr- victims were off-loaded at the port two days back.

Food Department sources said partial amount of rice from Japan as per commitment given by the Japanese government for Bangladesh's Sidr victims has started reaching in phases from last two weeks at Chittagong port.

Meanwhile, ships carrying about 29,000 metric tonnes of wheat to be brought by CARE and Save the Children USA, two leading International NGOs, are expected to reach at Chittagong port on January 10.

On the other hand, leading private food importers said the quantity of privately imported rice and wheat are likely to increase in next few days following the sudden price rise in the domestic market.

Sources said most of the private food grain importers in the port city abstained from opening Letter of Credit for importing essential commodities, particularly rice and wheat, as they feared financial losses following price instability in the global market.

"The quantity of privately imported rice through Chittagong port was not over 50,000 metric tonnes in last two months due to high import cost," a leading importer told BSS preferring anonymity.

He said private import may increase within a short time following soaring prices of rice and wheat in the domestic market which would ultimately cause a sharp decline of rice and wheat in the local market.