The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Naogaon

Rice mill associations of 22 districts at a meeting here yesterday raised a 10-point demand including payment of increased price for procurement of rice to those supplied to government godowns at old price.

The largely attended meeting at the Jamuna Community Centre in the town was convened by the federation of north regional rice mills owners associations that supplied bulk of the rice to the government godowns.

Presided by Javed Ali of Raiganj the meeting threatened to refrain from cooperating with the government in its current drive for foodgrains procurement if the demands are not met by August 31.

Finding lukewarm response from the millers the government has recently raised the procurement price of rice by Tk 1.25 kg that encouraged them to come up with the demand.

Fixation of income tax or payment at 5 percent of electricity bill and ensuring uninterrupted supply of power are the other main demands.

Speaking at the meeting the association leaders from different districts viewed that the government has created discrepancies in procurement of foodgrains during the current season that resulted in financial losses to the traders.

They said the government has deprived the millers who abiding by the rules supplied rice and paddy to the government godowns. But those did not supply foodgrains violating the contracts and the rules as well are now awarded benefits in the form raising the procurement price.

The newly fixed procurement price has to be paid for the foodgrains procured from boro harvest that started about four months ago, they asserted.

The association leaders said the government had created problems by awarding higher price to those who violated the rice/paddy supply contract and depriving those who honoured the contract despite financial loss.