Food grain storage capacity of Bangladesh will be increased to 35 lakh mts by 2030, said Food Minister Shadhan Chandra Majumder on Tuesday.

“The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) recently approved construction of 30 silos,” said the minister.

The minister was addressing a progremme on household silo distribution among the beneficiaries of a project in Shibalaya upazila of Manikganj district.

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Sadhan Chandra said the government has taken initiative to build 200 paddy silos to ensure food security and the modern silos will have capacity of containing 5,000 mts food grains.

Wet paddy will be processed here after collecting from farmers, he said adding that the fair prices will also be ensured for farmers.

“Moreover, smart cards will be introduced within the next six months under the food-friendly program,” the minister said.

Once introduced, more transparency and accountability will be ensured in the distribution of food aid, he added.

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The minister said the Covid pandemic has been successfully tackled under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and so no food crisis was created in the country.

MPs AM Naimur Rahman and Mamtaz Begum, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Abdul Latif, Director General of Food Department Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were, among others, present at the event.