Rice import not on the cards: Commerce Minister

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Shafiqul Islam
Published : 17:28, Jan 14, 2019 | Updated : 18:40, Jan 14, 2019

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi addresses a media call on Wednesday (Jan 9). Focus Bangla/File Photo

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has said that despite the rise in the price of rice, the government is not thinking about importing. He told Bangla Tribune, “According to statistics, there are enough surplus rice reserves in the country.”
Saying that the price hike of rice is illogical, the minister, said, “At this moment, farmers do not have rice, the produce is with the millers and so, there’s no rational reason for the rise of price.”
We are trying to find if anyone is increasing the price artificially, he added.
“The price of rice in the last two days is stable and I shall talk to the minister of the ministry of food to find a way to bring the price within the buying capacity of the masses.”
The commerce minister said that investigation is underway to find if any quarter is behind the artificial price hike to create unrest in the market.
Regarding unrest among RMG workers, he said, “I feel that workers will accept the pay scale fixed after consultation with the PM and go back to work.”
The salary structure of garment workers has been fixed after talking to the PM since garment sector brings 80 per cent of export income, commented the minister.

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