Govt orders strong vigil against rice smuggling
Letters sent to officials in 16 northern dists, BDR
The government has asked all law enforcement agencies and the civil administration in 16 northern districts, the main rice producing region, to maintain vigil against smuggling of Boro paddy and rice.
In a same letter forwarded to different offices in northern districts, all concerned were asked for surveillance so that traders can not smuggle the newly harvested paddy through the borders.
Copies of the letter were sent to district and upazila administrations, police stations, Bangladesh Rifles and agriculture offices. The letter ordered 'strong surveillance' in upazilas bordering India.
Talking to this correspondent, deputy commissioners of three districts, police superintendents and several upazila agriculture officers confirmed receipt of letters.
Unwilling to be quoted, they said the government sent the alarm following an intelligence report.
“An intelligence agency got information that some Indian traders employed agents among local businessmen for purchasing paddy and rice. The agents might try to smuggle out those to India”, said a deputy commissioner.
“We never heard that paddy and rice were smuggled to India. But this season, there is chance following rice price hike and its crisis in many other countries”, said a BDR official seeking anonymity.
Northern districts supply the country's one-third annual demand for rice.
The government as well as farmers are keen to preserve the bumper Boro yield after harvest as the country still faces fod deficit, the officials said.
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