Rice prices won’t go up in Ramadan: Food Secy

Food Secretary Mst. Nazmanara Khanum has said that the price of rice will not go up ahead of the month of Ramadan.

She made the remarks while talking to reporters at her office in the Secretariat on Wednesday.

"On the occasion of Ramadan, I can assure you that the price of rice will not go up. Because the food-friendly program will start from March,” she said this in response to a question.   

"If we see such a situation, then OMS center will be increased, she added.

She said more than 20 lakh tons of food grains are in stock. Even then the millers want to sell rice. What does that mean? The price of coarse rice will not increase rather than it will go down. If the new paddy is harvested, it will decrease further. Boro rice will hit the market in mid-April if there is no natural disaster. As a result, there is no fear of rising rice prices."

The food secretary added that prices were rising at various levels and it will be controlled by increasing the supply.