Food Minister Qamrul Islam alleged that a section of unscrupulous businessmen is conspiring to destablise the country's rice market taking advantage of the damage to Boro paddy by flood in haor areas.
The minister came up with the statement on Wednesday while he was addressing views-exchange meetings in Dinajpur and Nilphamari.
Our Dinajpur correspondent said the minister addressed a views-exchange meeting in the district as chief guest with field level officials at the deputy commissioner's office on procurement of food grains in the morning.
He said the corrupt traders were spreading propaganda that the country would face a huge food crisis this time.
About the soaring rice price, he said Boro paddy from the haor region did not hit the market this season while that from the country's northern region is yet to be harvested.
Director General of the Directorate General of Food M Badrul Hasan, Rangpur Regional Food Controller M Rayhanul Kabir on the occasion with Deputy Commissioner Mir Khairul Alam in the Chair.
In the afternoon, the minister reached Nilphamari and spoke with field level officials at the deputy commissioner's office, our correspondent reported.
He also claimed that the country would not have to face food crisis though crops damaged in different regions due recent to flood and storms.
“There was a target to produce 91 lakh tonnes of Boro paddy in the country this season, 6 lakh tonnes were damaged in the haor regions and 5 more tonnes may be damaged in other ways. Even then, we'll get 80 lakh tonnes of paddy,” he said.
Among others Deputy Commissioner Khaled Rahim, Zilla Parishad Chairman Joynal Abedin and Civil Surgeon Dr Abdur Rashid spoke on the occasion.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
