The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Food Minister Dr Abdur Razzak yesterday said that the government will take initiative to reduce food prices by increasing production and importing if necessary.

He said that the main task of his government would be to bring the prices of essential commodities at a reasonable level. It is not possible to increase production right now, Abdur Razzak told reporters at the Food Ministry on the first day of his office.

"But we do not need to worry about the stock we have. We can import food on an emergency basis if necessary," he said.

We promised to reduce the prices of essentials, which our party pledged in the election manifesto, he said, adding, our prime minister also said the food prices should be minimised at any rate. "We will work to come down the prices of essential commodities," he again said.

The prices of essential commodities were still high, Razzak said.

"We will take steps so that the farmers can get fertiliser in the upcoming Boro season.

The price of TSP fertiliser is abnormally high in the global market. We will try to bring the prices at a tolerable level considering all the issues."

Razzak said they had heard from many places that the new government would bring the price of rice down to Tk 10.

"But our leader did not give any pledge like that. It is not possible to feed people rice at Tk 10. What our leader said was that our main aim would be to bring the price of rice to a tolerable level.

"Our main target should be to ensure food for all. Whether the price of rice is Tk 10 or Tk 15 is not a matter."

"We have about 12,55,000 tonnes of food in stock. We will try to increase the capacity of the store houses," the food minister said.

He said the rice price should be fixed on the basis of production costs. The fertiliser price is abnormally high. The cost of irrigation will come down if the power production increases, which, in turn, will cut production costs.