DHAKA, March 21, 2023 (BSS) - Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar today warned that stern action would be taken against those involved in creating artificial rice crisis in the country. 

“There is no shortage of rice in the country. If anyone creates artificial rice crisis to increase its price, action will be taken against him or her,” he said while speaking at a view-exchange meeting.

The meeting was held at the conference room of the Food Directorate here today, aiming to keep the price of rice stable during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. 

Speaking as the chief guest, Sadhan said the government monitors market supply and prices in various ways.
 
“Not only in the month of Ramadan, this monitoring is going on and will continue throughout the year. None can sell rice in this country without license. To do this, traders must have food grain licenses. Dealers must have this license too,” he said.
 
After every 15 days, the dealers have to submit the return of how much rice they bought and how much they sold, the minister said.

Sadhan said when a meeting is held with the traders, the price of rice decreases and then it increases again. 

Calling on the rice traders to leave the tendency of price hike, he said after the announcement of the World Bank that there might be a famine in 2023, many people have unjustly increased the price of rice and stockpiled it.