JS body questions rice import

A parliamentary body yesterday raised questions on the government's initiative to import rice when the country has enough production of the staple.

The parliamentary standing committee on agriculture at a meeting asked the minister concerned to enquire into the matter and inform the Jatiya Sangsad watchdog in its next meeting likely to be held within a month, JS sources said.

"The committee wanted to know from the agriculture minister [Matia Chowdhury] why the government is importing rice," Mokbul Hossain, chief of the committee, told The Daily Star.

Matia Chowdhury, also a member of the committee, said it was the commerce ministry not the agriculture was involved in it.

Abdur Razzaque, another member of the committee, said there was no enough space in the government warehouses to accommodate rice presently produced in the country.

"The committee recommends that the government should take measures immediately to stop import of rice to save farmers," said Razzaque, also former food minister.

The ruling Awami League MP said the minister agreed with that. "If necessary, we will seek the prime minister's intervention to stop import of rice," he added.