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Download PDF Import of rice from India through Benapole land port was hampered yesterday as the Indian customs authorities suddenly imposed restriction on the export of rice that is priced below $ 510 a tonne.
A correspondent from Benapole quoted importers as saying that they had imported 6,500 tonnes of rice at $ 505 per tonne on Wednesday, but yesterday, Deputy Commissioner Anwar Hossain of the Indian customs authority at Petrapole land port enforced restriction on the export of rice that was priced the same.
However, after engaging in arguments with the Indian customs authorities, Indian traders convinced the Indian customs officials to allow export of 1,000 tonnes of rice at $ 505 a tonne. At least 50 trucks loaded with rice were sent back after failing to gain customs approval.
The Indian customs authorities also harassed the exporters by demanding various documents including levy certificates and purchase vouchers from rice mills.
Anwar Hossain, deputy commissioner of Indian customs authority, said it was not possible for India to export any rice that is less than 18 Indian rupees per kg.
One kg of rice on retail markets in India now sells at 12 Indian rupee.
As hundreds of trucks remain stranded on the other side of the border due the latest ban, importers are opening new letters of credit (LC) at $ 510 a tonne after amending their previous LCs that had been opened at $ 425 for a tonne of rice from India.
Raj Babu, an Indian rice exporter, said trading of rice is being badly affected due to the frequent restrictions imposed by the Indian authorities.
Meanwhile, our correspondent from Chapainawabganj reports: Around 5,180 tonnes of rice was imported from India during the last couple of days through Sonamasjid land port and Rahanpur LC Station at $ 505 per tonne.
The customs authorities of both the countries decided to keep the port open today (weekly holiday in Bangladesh) for trading of rice.
In the meantime, Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty yesterday said the Indian government has imposed restriction on export of non-Basmati rice as its first priority is to ensure food security for its own people.
“The restriction is to make sure that all the rice is not exported out of India, because we have more than a billion people including a huge rice-eating population,” he told reporters after a meeting with Adviser for Home Affairs Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin.
In the wake of rising rice prices due to global demand, India has been keeping a curb on export of lower end rice priced below $500 per tonne, said Chakravarty.
He, however, added that Bangladesh procuring 5 lakh tonnes of rice at $400 a tonne is an exception.
The Indian government through notification on February 7 restricted exporting non-Basmati rice by raising the price ceiling for per tonne rice to $500 from $425.
“The fact is, the price of rice is going up in our country too. If we allow all the rice to be exported what will our people eat?” asks the Indian high commissioner in Dhaka.
Queried why the Bangladeshi importers with letters of credits (L/Cs) opened earlier have to pay at the present high rate, Chakravarty replied: “Ask them, I don’t know what the private parties are doing.”
When pointed out that many importers who opened L/Cs at around $250 a tonne are being charged $500 a tonne following the Indian government’s recent decision, he said, “Well, the government is taking this decision in the greater interest of the people.”
On whether the friendly relations between the two countries would suffer because of the developments, he said, “I don’t think so. Won’t we see our interest? Would we feed you keeping ourselves unfed? It cannot be.”
Indian government is not involved in L/Cs and doesn’t know how many L/Cs have been opened since those go through private banking channels, he noted.
Asked about India’s failure to make good on its pledge of about 86,000 tonnes of food assistance to Bangladesh in 2004, he said his country has started implementing its commitments.
“Committed aids will reach Bangladesh in phases, depending on our budget allocations,” he said, adding that 5,000 tonnes of rice arrived in Chittagong last week.
On India’s view on the current situation here, he said New Delhi wants Bangladesh to return to democracy through a free and fair election according to the announced roadmap.
Earlier, Chakravarty paid a courtesy call on Cultural Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Choudhury at her office.
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