Trickery and politics responsible for higher rice prices, says food minister

Food Minister Qamrul Islam says trickery and politics are to blame for the recent increase in rice prices.

Bangladesh has produced 19.2 million tonnes of rice paddies despite flood damage and pests, he said at a press conference at the secretariat on Thursday.

“They are playing politics with rice, trying to engineer shortages throughout the country. They are purposefully tricking people, trying to create anxiety and fear by controlling the rice.”

The minister blamed it on a section of traders and mill owners.

“We are experiencing deceit and conspiracy. There are over 10 million tonnes of rice in Bangladesh, so how can this situation be?”

“I call upon merchants and mill owners to fix this. There is still time for you to act morally. We will in no way tolerate your cartel, your racket, your attempts to play politics, your creation of a shortage to inflate the prices of rice. This is your final chance.”

Two rounds of floods have damaged crops across the country since the haor floods. The rice price, which rose a few months ago, has risen even higher in the past few days.

The decision to reduce the tariff on rice imports by 26 percent has failed to calm the rice market. The government has made agreements with Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar to import rice.

Though two rounds of rice imports have arrived from Thailand, rice prices have yet to fall. Officials at the food ministry have blamed a lack of oversight by the commerce ministry.

The commerce ministry has not taken any visible measure to manage the rice market, they said.