DHAKA: Bangladesh is to import 400,000 metric tonnes of rice from India to tide over its current shortage. Dhaka, faced with an estimated shortage of 1mn tonnes, is also to import rice from Thailand and Vietnam.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, who performs prime ministerial functions in the interim government, made the announcement after Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury spoke on telephone to Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, media reports said yesterday.

Ahmed said contracts to Indian parties have already been given out and talks initiated with Thailand and Vietnam. He said a high-level government delegation would visit India this week to finalise the import of rice.

Media reports indicated that the import of the 400,000 tonnes is in addition to the 500,000 tonnes that India has pledged to sell under the food-for-aid programme in the wake of the November 15 cyclone that devastated Bangladesh’s crop. The Bangladesh government will procure the rice from Indian state agencies, said a foreign ministry handout.

Wishing each other “a happy new year”, they hoped that the bilateral relations between the two countries would further improve mutual benefits during the current year.

Speaking to the media, Iftekhar expressed satisfaction at the reported decision by the Indian government to lift a ban on Bangladeshi investments in India.

“My belief is that it will help those Bangladeshi businessmen who are eager to invest in northeastern India,” the adviser was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.

Bangladesh has been appreciative of the Indian gesture that has been made despite the domestic shortage in the public distribution system (PDS).
It has helped hold the price line of this staple diet. The prices rose by 54% in the last few months, but have been brought under control. – IANS