The campaign of procurement of 17, 359 tonnes of (MT) rice and 7, 614 tonnes of Aman Paddy in the current season began in the country’s northern district of Nagaon on Thursday.

The campaign will continue till February 28.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar inaugurated the campaign virtually from the ministry in Dhaka.

Chaired by Secretary to the ministry Md Ismail Hossain, an event was organised at the conference room of Naogaon Deputy Commissioner’s office where DC Md. Golam Moula, Regional Food Controller of Rajshahi Division Md. Zahirul Islam Khan, Deputy Director of The Department of Agricultural Extension Abul Kalam Azad, District Food Controller Md. Tanvir Rahman, District Awami League Vice President Md. Abdul Khaleque and District Rice Mill Owners Group General Secretary Farhad Hossain Chakdar, among others, were present.

On behalf of the minister, DC Golam Maula inaugurated the campaign formally by cutting a ribbon at Sadar Food Warehouse.

District Food Controller Md Tanvir said each kilogram (Kg) of rice and paddy will be bought at Tk 44 and Tk30 respectively.

The highest 6, 375 tonnes of rice and 4069 tonnes of paddy will be collected from the Sadar upazila of the district, he said.

At the inauguration ceremony, 21 tonnes of rice were collected from M/S Ghosh Automatic Rice Mill owned by Dwijendranath Ghosh and 1 tonne of rice from trader Nripendranath Majumder was also elected.