Dhaka, July 15 (bdnews24.com) – Rice mill owners have withdrawn their earlier decision to promised uninterrupted supply to the government warehouses to keep the market stable. Convenor of Bangladesh Auto, Major and Husking Mill Owners' Association K M Layek told reporters about the decision on Thursday after a meeting with food minister Abdur Razzaque at his office. He also said the association was sorry for the recent decision to halt supplies, which many say contributed to the sudden hike in rice price.

 Millers across the country stopped supplying rice from July 11 after a meeting with the government representatives failed to resolve the discriminatory cash incentive issue.

The association, which is already under contract to supply rice to the government at a previously determined rate, had demanded the same Tk 3 a kg incentive the food directorate recently announced for new suppliers.

The government recently signed an agreement with new suppliers for procuring 2.5 lakh tonnes of rice and decided to give the incentive to them aimed at boosting the procurement drive.

Layek on Thursday asked the minister to reconsider the incentive issue.

He, however, denied any negative impact on the rice market due to the stoppage. "Some wholesalers from Dhaka are responsible for the unstable situation in the market. Measures should be taken against those after investigations," he said.

Layek also suggested intervention from the prime minister, food and commerce ministers.

He further told reporters they would supply more than the agreed quantity in the ongoing boro season.

"We have already signed an agreement to supply additional rice. Before July 4, agreements were reached to supply 470,000 tonnes, which has been increased to 530,000 tonnes."

He said all the millers have already been directed to supply rice according to the revised agreement.

The millers on Thursday also sought recognition of the sector as an industry, uninterrupted power supply and power connection to new mills.

Razzaque thanked the millers for realising their fault and assured to consider the incentive issue.

He said the issue would be resolved after discussing with the food planning and monitoring committee, who can only decide on this issue.

Additional secretary of the food division Abdul Awal Hawlader, director general of food directorate Ahmed Hossain Khan and food division joint secretary Khandaker Atiar Rahman were present among others.