Chittagong Port has received 22,000 metric tonnes of Atap rice from Myanmar, transported by the MV Golden Star vessel.
The rice consignment, imported on a government-to-government (G2G) basis, marks the first shipment of its kind under the current interim government, said the Ministry of Food in a media release issued on Friday (Jan 17).
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It said samples from the shipment will undergo physical testing before unloading begins and all necessary arrangements have already been made to ensure a smooth process.
This shipment follows a separate agreement between Bangladesh and Pakistan to import rice.
On January 14, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the Food Ministry between the Directorate General of Food and Pakistan’s Trading Corporation (TCP).
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Abdul Khalek, Director General of the Directorate General of Food, and Syed Rafi Bashir Shah, Chairman of TCP, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.
According to sources at the Directorate General of Food, the procurement process will commence following approval from the government’s purchase committee. Shipments from Pakistan are expected to begin arriving by February.
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The Food Ministry stated in its release that the MoU is anticipated to stabilise the domestic rice market while fostering economic and trade relations between the two countries. "This agreement is expected to open a new chapter in strengthening bilateral ties and ensuring food security," the statement said.