Rice traders to face music for not complying with law

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Thursday said the government will take tough action against those engaged in the business of rice or paddy if they don't comply with the law.

The minister said this while addressing a meeting with stakeholders related to controlling the rice price hike at the conference room of the deputy commissioner of Jhenaidah.

Sadhan said it is not appropriate to raise the price of rice suddenly without a proper cause. He also stated that steps are being taken to ensure that the mill gate price is written on the rice bag.

The minister said the millers are claiming that the corporate organisations are buying paddy with competition and stockpiling it illegally.

He urged the local civil and police administrations to take action against any rice hoarding. There will be no scope for illegal storing of rice with ulterior motives of making profits. Law violators must be brought to book, he said.

The food minister said they are working relentlessly to keep the rice price static throughout the country and urged all to extend their wholehearted cooperation to make the effort successful.

Sadhan suggested that rice dealers and millers should extend cooperation by providing information about unscrupulous businessmen.

Md Abdul Hai, MP, additional secretary of the food ministry Habibur Rahman, additional police super Md Imran Jakaria, Jhenaidah Auto Rice Mill Malik Samity president Md Moazzem Hossain and Jhenaidah Press Club President Md Mizanur Rahman, among others, addressed the meeting with deputy commissioner SM Rafiqul Islam in the chair.