International - India & World   

Ban on rice export to Dhaka goes

DHAKA: Rice import from India through Benapole and other land ports resumed on Wednesday after three days of suspension following the withdrawal of ban by the Government of India.

However, an order of India’s Director General of Foreign Trade said rice export was allowed only for those who opened Letters of Credit at over $500 a tonne.

Indian private sector rice exports came to a halt on February 9 as the Ministry concerned reportedly asked the Kolkata Customs Commissioner (Preventive) to suspend the exports.

However, Bangladesh food adviser A.A.M.M. Shawkat Ali hoped the sudden restriction would not affect the government’s procurement of five lakh tonnes from India.

Dhaka on Tuesday signed a contract with New Delhi to buy five lakh tonnes of rice promised by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukharjee to meet the emergency need following last November’s catastrophic cyclone, Sidr.

A highly placed Bangladesh official, now in Kolkata leading a delegation, signed the contract with West Bengal Essential Commodities Supply Cooperative Ltd., said a government source.

Bangladesh finance adviser Mirza Azizul Islam hoped the import would be completed within the next 75 days.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Badawi calls mid-term elections
Ambassador alive but not traced yet, says Pakistan
Hizbollah leader killed in Syria
Queen wades into Sharia row
India’s assurance to Sri Lanka on economic support
Madhesi strike hits life in Nepal
Ban on rice export to Dhaka goes

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu