Asked about reduction of import duty, the commerce minister said it is not possible to reduce the 29% rice import duty before the House approves the next fiscal year budget. The government procurement officials are now requesting the rice mill owners to collect at least one or two hundred thousand tonnes of rice to mobilise the current procurement programme. Zillur termed it too late for the government to import rice from Vietnam as it is in the middle of crisis. The Food Ministry has so far procured 25,625 tonnes of rice till June 13. The rice and paddy procurement drive started from May 2 and will continue till August 31 during the harvesting period.

Source: Dhaka Tribune June 15, 2017 18:45 UTC