The government launched drives across the country against illegal rice hoarders from Tuesday, said the Food Ministry. Eight teams of the ministry started the drives to detect those who are involved in creating artificial crisis by hoarding rice illegally and they will take legal steps against them, according to an official release. Also read: Cabinet orders prompt action against rice hoarders The decision was taken at a meeting with Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder in the chair, held at the Secretariat. The meeting also decided to send letters to the deputy commissioners, upazila nirbahi officers, National Security Intelligence, Rapid Action Battalion and Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection to tackle the crisis created by illegal hoarding of rice. The Food Ministry also opened a control room and people have been requested to inform them about illegal rice hoarding by making phone call on +88022233802113, 01790499942 and 01713003506. The Cabinet on Monday directed the relevant authorities to find out why the rice price is so high during the peak harvest season. Also read:Strict action if anyone tries to destabilise rice market: Food Minister The directive came from the Cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at her office. The meeting decided to conduct drives against illegal rice hoarders like the recent drives carried out against the edible oil hoarders in the country, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam.

Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Tuesday said legal action will be taken against those involved in selling fertilisers at high prices after creating an artificial crisis. “Legal steps will be taken against those dealers, businessmen and shop owners who are found involved in selling fertilisers at a high price after spreading rumors of a fertilizer crisis as there are plenty of all kinds of fertilisers in the country," he said at a press briefing. Mobile court drives will be conducted in the boro season if needed, he said.  The press briefing was called to explain the overall situation of fertilisers in the country. Razzaque said the mobile court drives will be conducted for the next 30-days to control the market. Read: Onion price will cool down within 15-20 days: Agriculture Minister “Some 8.32 lakh tonnes of urea fertiliser is in stock against the demand of 3.1 lakh tonnes of urea fertiliser in the current month. Besides, 1.92 lakh tonnes of TSP fertiliser, 5.96 lakh tonnes of DAP and 3.12 lakh tonnes of MOP fertilisers are in stock against the demand,” he said.  “We have taken all-out preparation to ensure fertilisers at the local market as fertilisers are needed in this boro season. So, there will be no crisis of fertilisers,” he added. Mentioning abnormal price hike of fertilisers in the international market, the minister said the international syndicate is exploiting countries like Bangladesh. Read: Monga will never return: Agriculture Minister “We are strictly monitoring it and the field-level workers are active in that case," he said. Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, who was present there, urged the farmers not to panic as there is no crisis of fertilisers now.