45 rice mills in Khulna lose licence
Khulna district controller of food has cancelled licences of 45 rice mills for not supplying rice at the rate fixed by the government.
Licences of nine rice mills in the city, 20 in Phultala, six in Dumuria, six in Batiaghata and four in Paikgachha upazilas in the district were cancelled for failing to supply rice and signing contracts for that purpose, said District Controller of food Md Monirul Islam.
The 45 rice millers had lost their licences for not complying with reminders given officially earlier to sign contracts to supply rice to government at official rate, he said.
A few of the licences were cancelled for not renewing them in time, he added.
Khulna district administration set procurement target of 18,114 tonnes of rice at official rate during the current Boro season but only 3,640 tonnes could be procured, official sources said.
The source added that there is one lakh tonnes of rice in stock in the district, which is much higher than stocks in the previous year.
Terming the action of the government as 'unjustified', Khulna District Rice Mill owners' Association leaders said production of Boro paddy was not up to the mark to reach the procurement target.
Most of the rice mills are incurring loss, said Sheikh Amzad Hossain, owner of Amzad Hossain Rice Mill in the city.
Sheikh Mohammad Ali, president of Khulna District Rice Mill owners' Association, said other rice millers will stop their supply to wholesale market in protest against such 'unjustified action'.
Besides, cancellation of licences of 45 rice mills in the city and district will throw at least 4,000 workers out of job, he said.
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