Bangladesh has high rice import duty as it's self-reliant, but it can be decreased if needed, says the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
“As the country is self-sufficient in rice production, the duty on importing the grain is high. However, it can be cut if necessary,” its Chairman Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said on Sunday (Nov 24).
His remarks came while he was addressing a round-table discussion at the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
Assuring of no more price hike of essentials in future, the NBR boss said, “NBR is investigating the import and distribution procedures of the commodities including onion,” he added.

FBCCI discusses over essential commodity market

Earlier in the day, a closed-door meeting of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) in presence of the commerce minister and the food minister was held over the recent countrywide price hike crisis.

According to sources, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, secretaries to industry and agriculture ministry, FBCCI leaders and importer have discussed over supply, stock and distribution of daily essential commodities.
In last month, onion price shoot through the roof following India’s export ban. Currently, the essential cooking ingredient has been sold as high as Tk 260 per kg.
A rumor on Nov 19 spiked salt price to Tk 100 per kg, which only came down after the government intervened.
Rice prices have also gone up amid the recent countrywide transport strike.