The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shahidul Islam

Launching the countrywide open market sale (OMS) of rice yesterday, the Government has further intensified its activities to import 10 lakh metric tonnes of rice from abroad to cool down the abnormal price hike and to build up a comfortable food stock, meeting the shortfall due to three consecutive natural disasters last year.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday had telephonic conversations with his Pakistani counterpart Enam-ul Haq for importing rice from that country while a three-member delegation led by Food and Disaster Management Secretary Ayub Miah left Dhaka for Delhi yesterday to finalise the import of 500,000 metric tonnes of rice.

Earlier last week, the Foreign Adviser had telephonic conversations with Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and requested him for taking initiative so that the 500,000 metric tonnes of rice reached Bangladesh as early as possible.

In the last few days, Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury held meetings with officials of the World Food Program (WFP) and envoys of India, Thailand and Vietnam in Dhaka to procure and import the required quantum (10 lakh tonnes) of rice.

The country is facing acute food deficit following the production loss caused by flooding twice and the devastating Cyclone "Sidr" last year that battered the country's southern coastal region on November 15.

Besides, a nexus among the hoarders, wholesalers and millers is reportedly responsible for causing the sharp price spiral of rice.

Officials of the Food Ministry yesterday said the import of food-grains from abroad through private channels will also be continuing side by side with that of the Government's procurement.

Meanwhile, the Dubai wing of Indian firm LMJ International Ltd made the lowest offer at US $397 per tonne yesterday in a Government tender in Dhaka to supply 50,000 metric tonnes of non- basmati parboiled rice, traders said.

The tender floated in November by the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management to import 100,000 metric tonnes of the rice to meet emergency needs, was closed yesterday with validity up to Jan. 29.

Among three participating firms, LMJ quoted the price to supply only 50,000 tonnes, for Chittagong port, cif including stevedoring on the seller's account, at both ends of the shipment.

State Trading Corp (STC) of India Ltd quoted US $433 to supply 100,000 tonnes and Bangladeshi firm Mabco Foods Ltd, quoted US $444.44 per tonne to supply 50,000 tonnes of rice respectively, official sources said.

Earlier, in the morning the Government launched a countrywide open market sale (OMS) of rice at a reduced rate than that of market against the backdrop of the abnormal price-hike of the staple food.

The Government appointed a total of 1,990 dealers across the country, including 450 in Dhaka city, for selling rice at Tk 25 per kg through the OMS operation in addition to the faire price shops run by the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), which is selling rice at the same rate from last couple weeks.

The government has decided to sell 45,375 metric tonnes of rice at the reduced price within January under the program. As per the rules, each customer can buy a maximum of 3 kg of rice every alternative day. Of the total quantity of rice, OMS dealers will sell 25,375 tonnes and the BDR 20,000 metric tonnes in January.

On the first day of the operation yesterday, 1,305 OMS dealers, including 150 in the capital, took part in selling rice throughout the country. Rest of the dealers will participate in the operation in a day or two, Director General of Food Directorate Mollah Wahiduzzaman told journalists yesterday.

The sale of rice through OMS dealers will be held on every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday of each week from 9:00am to 5:00pm, he added.

Of the total 450 appointed dealers for Dhaka city 150 sold rice from 10 locations of city yesterday. In some selling centers, there have been long queues of people waiting for buying rice from morning to the afternoon till the closure.

Josna Begum, who bought 3 kg of rice at one selling center in the capital yesterday morning, said the rice sold in the outlets was good and much cheaper than the market price. "I will come again the next day," she said urging the Government to increase quota from 3 kg to 5 kg for each buyer.

The price of rice started sliding down this week with the military-backed Government intervention. However, it is still beyond the reach of the common people.

Earlier, The Economic Times reported from Delhi earlier that the Indian State Trading Corporation (STC) and NAFED were likely to decide on Tuesday on the bids floated by them for supply of preboiled and white rice to Bangladesh.

"Both STC and NAFED have invited bids on behalf of the government. The final decision on the tender would be taken tomorrow," a senior official of National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) said on Monday.

"Although the Indian government has decided to supply five lakh tons of rice to Dhaka but it has not yet allotted the quantity to each agency. We will get to know it shortly," he added.

The trading firms have specified the bidders must have at least two years of experience in supplying rice to Bangladesh. They should have exported a minimum quantity of 50,000 metric tones of rice in the last one-year. Also, the bidder must have sound financial background with a minimum annual turnover of Rs 100 crore.