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2 WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2017 DT News RICE PRICE HIKE The crisis that could have been avoided • Abu Siddique SPECIAL Rice price shows no letup in local markets • Rafikul Islam CURRENT AFFAIRS The upward trend of rice price continues in the local markets with no indication to slide. The price of the staple food is expected to fall as soon as the Vietnamese rice arrives, Food Minister Qamrul Islam said while taking to the Dhaka Tribune recently. “A 2,50,000-tonne of rice from Vietnam would arrive within July 10-12. However, TV reports show that rice price has gone down by about Tk2 to According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh lost around two million tonnes of paddy during the boro season in April- May – the highest yielding season of paddy in a year – due to the flash flood in Haor basin and a blast disease epidemic in different regions SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN Bangladesh is seeing a record hike in rice prices this year, even after the harvest season, as the government reserve of rice has hit a record low in at least a decade. Rice traders and farmers say the government’s persistent stance against increasing its reserve by importing rice, keeping the import duty at 28% to restrict import by private traders, damage to boro paddy due to a recent flash flood in Haor areas, and a lack of monitoring over the private sector are the major reasons behind the crisis. According to the Ministry of Food, the current retail price of coarse rice is Tk48 – which is Tk18 higher than what the price was this time last year. Furthermore, on June 21, the government rice reserve stood at 173,000 tonnes – a whopping 445,000 tonnes less than the 618,000-tonne reserve on the same day last year. This situation did not arise overnight, but has been happening over the last six months, said market insiders, who blamed the government for overlooking the rapidly depleting government stock and not initiating the import of rice sooner. “The government is too late. It should have approached the international market for importing rice much sooner than it did when it noticed the depleting reserve,” said Quazi Shahabuddin, agricultural economist and former director general of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS). However, on Wednesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Minister said at parliament that the country was currently not facing a crisis of its staple food. She said as of June 28, the government reserve stood at 188,000 tonnes of rice, whereas the government-approved rice mills had around 5.4 million tonnes in stock and the retail-wholesale markets had a further 5 million tonnes. Where did the paddy go? According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh lost around two million tonnes of paddy during the boro season in April-May – the highest yielding season of paddy in a year – due to the flash flood in Haor basin and a blast disease epidemic in different regions. Ministry data shows the boro yield last year was 19 million tonnes. Taking that into account, right now the country should have roughly around 17 million tonnes of paddy. Like every year, the government has been procuring boro rice and paddy for its own reserve since May 2, with the target of procuring 800,000 tonnes of rice and 700,000 tonnes of paddy by August 1, mostly to run its social safety net programme and emergency disaster relief. But as of now, the government has managed to procure only 49,159 tonnes of rice – a measly amount compared to last year’s procurement of around 1 million tonnes. Owners of rice mills, from whom the government is procuring the rice this year, claim that there is not enough paddy in the local market, which is why they are unable to supply the rice to the government. “This year, we do not have enough stock to run our business for long,” said Nirod Boron Saha, president of Naogaon Rice Wholesalers’ Association. Asked where all the paddy has gone just two months after harvest, Nirod said: “Some unscrupulous traders and farmers may have hoarded the paddy as the price was good during the harvest period.” Tk3 in the local market.” But visiting different kitchen markets across the capital, it was observed that rice price did not come down, rather the price of some varieties of rice increased. A kilogramme of coarse rice was being sold at between Tk47 and Tk54 while fine rice Tk56 and Tk62, and Chinigura, a variety of rice, Tk95 and Tk100 at different groceries in the capital yesterday. Before Eid, the price of coarse rice was ranging between Tk46 and Tk52 while fine rice from Tk55 to Tk60 and Chinigura rice from Tk90 to Tk95 a kilogramme in the markets. According to the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) which tracks the prices of daily necessities, the prices of coarse rice and fine ones have shot up to 2% from 1%. Abu Quasem, a wholesaler at Karwanbazar in the capital, said the price of rice won’t decrease till the imported rice arrives. “Probably, we can get the rice in the market within one and a half months.” “We can do nothing if the prices go up at source. We buy the rice at higher price from storehouses and sell it to retailers keeping a little profit.” Millers irked by govt procurement rate Another reason why the rice mill owners have backtracked from supplying rice to the government reserve is the procurement rate set by the government, said Nirod. For this boro season, the government has fixed the procurement price as Tk24 per kg of paddy and Tk34 per kg of rice. These rates contradict with the “paddy-to-rice conversion” method and will cause losses to the millers, he added. “A maund (around 37.32kg) of rice is produced from around a maund and a half of paddy. If the price of paddy is Tk24 per kg, naturally the price of rice will be Tk36,” he explained. “If the government rates are to be followed, millers will have to count a Tk2 loss per kg of rice that they supply to the government reserve.” Tanjimul Alam, an employee of a private firm, said: “We have to buy rice despite its soaring price since we cannot but eat rice. However, we are looking to the government decision after the rice from Vietnam comes.” Earlier, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the import of rice would cool prices in the local market. He said the Vietnamese rice would reach Chittagong and Mongla ports shortly. The Ministry of Food website yesterday showed that rice reserves stood at 1.50 lakh metric tonnes. The private sector imported 133.02 thousand tonnes of rice in between July 01, 2016 Because of these “ridiculous” rates, the government would not get rice from the millers this season, Nirod told the Dhaka Tribune. Import is the solution To overcome the current situation, the government has already initiated import of rice from different countries, including Vietnam and India. An agreement to this end has been signed with Vietnam, while the authorities concerned are looking into the Indian market. In addition, the government has cut down the import duty on rice to 10% from 28% so the private sector can immediately start importing rice. However, this year rice price is higher in the international market as well. A tonne of rice is priced at around $410-450 in India, Vietnam, Pakistan and Thailand, which means the price of imported rice in the local market would be around Tk36-42 per kg, according to the Ministry of Food. Market insiders believe the upward trend of rice price will continue, or at least the current situation will remain as it is, if the government fails to control the market by importing enough amount of rice. Agricultural economist Quazi Shahabuddin said importing rice is the only option for the government to tackle the situation at the moment. He advised the government to reduce the import duty down to zero so private sector importers could make some profit, seeing as rice prices are high in the global market as well. Nirod Boron Saha agreed. “The government should also increase the number of beneficiaries in and the amount of rice allotted to its social safety net programme to reduce the demand in the local market,” he added. • and June 30, 2017, but the government import was at zero. Earlier from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, the government imported 1.28 thousand tonnes of rice while private sector 255.96 thousand tonnes. Naogaon Rice Mills Association president Nirab Baron Shaha said buyers don’t come here to buy rice. They go to India to import. The mills are yet to open after Eid vacation. Perhaps, it would open within one week, he said, adding that, “We used to sell medium-size rice at over Tk2,000 while fine rice at Tk2,500 per 50 Kg.” •
News WEDNESDAY, 3 JULY 5, 2017 DT Farhad Mazhar’s kidnapping wrapped in mystery Farhad tells court that he might have been kidnapped to embarrass the govt • Arifur Rahman Rabbi, Afrose Jahan Chaity and Md Sanaul Islam Tipu CURRENT AFFAIRS The reported abduction of noted litterateur and columnist Farhad Mazhar, who went missing in the wee hours on Monday from his Dhaka residence, remains cloaked in mystery as it is still unclear who abducted him and why. He was rescued in Jessore’s Nawapara area later in the day, sparking speculations over his mysterious disappearance. Later, Farhad was brought to Dhaka yesterday around 9am and then taken to the Detective Branch office on Minto Road from Adabor police station for questioning. Addressing a press briefing at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Media Centre, Detective Branch’s Joint Commissioner Abdul Baten said the general dairy his wife Farida Akhter had filed with the police station turned into an abduction case. “After a primary interrogation, the police took Farhad to a court for recording his statement, based on which law enforcement agencies will further investigate the case,” Baten said. According to court sources, Farhad Mazhar in his statement to the court said he had been kidnapped when he had gone out to get medicines in the early hours. He said the abductors had bought him a Dhaka-bound bus ticket of Hanif Paribahan from Khulna and asked him to come straight to Dhaka. Farhad further said he did not think he had been abducted for money. It was him who offered the ransom money to the kidnappers. He said he might have been kidnapped to embarrass the government. Meanwhile, the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ahsan Habib allowed Farhad to return home following his appeal. Asked what the police gleaned from him during the interrogation, Joint Commissioner Baten said: “Farhad said the kidnappers dragged him inside a microbus in the morning and drove off. We are investigating how he was able to phone his wife under such duress. We are only sharing what we have gathered until now by questioning him. We will provide detailed information once we have all the evidence.” Talking to the press, Farhad’s daughter Chaumtoli Huq said: “My father looks very ill and exhausted. I have never seen him like this. We are worried about his health.” His wife Farida, too, expressed concerns about deteriorating physical conditions of Farhad, who is now undergoing treatment at Birdem Hospital. What happened and how Farhad had worked the whole night before he went missing in the morning. He went out to buy some medicines. When he reached the middle of Shyamoli and Adabar, some men picked him in a microbus and blindfolded him. According to the case statement, Farhad phoned his wife Farida on Monday at 5:30am and said in fear that some people were taking him away to kill. He then disconnected the call. “I could not understand whoever kidnapped him. Policemen started an investigation right after I had made a call to Adabar police,” said Farida. He made four phone calls to Farida after his abduction, informing her that the kidnappers demanded Tk35 lakh as ransom for his release, Farida mentioned in the case statement. A police source said: “Kidnappers took Farhad to Khulna via Gabtoli, Manikganj, Doulatdia Ghat, Faridpur, and Jessore. They kept him blindfolded during the whole journey from Dhaka to Khulna. “The kidnappers set him free between 7pm and 7:30pm on Monday in Khulna and gave him a ticket to go back to Dhaka.” A team of Rapid Action Battalion rescued Farhad Mazhar from a Dhaka-bound bus of Hanif Paribahan in Nawapara area of Jessore when he was coming back to Dhaka, the source added. • ‘Where did the carryall come from?’ • Nashirul Islam CURRENT AFFAIRS Police are claiming to have found a carryall with Farhad Mazhar after rescuing him, which contained his clothes and phone charger, which arouse some controversies. However, his wife Farida Akhter and his daughter Samtali Huq have confirmed that when Farhad got out of his house at dawn, he did not have the bag with him. When asked, his wife Farida said: “I do not know if he took a bag with him. He carries a bag with him often, which contains his books and medicine. But the bag he came back with was not the one he usually carries. So where did this bag come from?” She added: “He suffers from blood pressure, and gets sick if he does not take medicines. He has been looking very ill ever since he came back. I have never seen him like this.” Farhad Mazhar’s daughter Samtali said: “Everyone has seen the footage of his departure from his house at dawn. There was no bag with him then. How does he have a bag now?” Rapid Action Battalion rescued Farhad Mazhar from Nawapara on Monday night after his disappearance on Monday morning. Afterwards, the DIG of Khulna range, Didar Ahmed told Bangla Tribune: “When we rescued him he was healthy. He had a bag with him, which had extra clothes, a mobile phone, a phone charger and some money.” Later, he was brought to Dhaka from Jessore under the care of Assistant Commissioner of police Hafiz al Faruq. • Qatar crisis deadline extended by 2 days as nation responds • Tribune Desk WORLD Arab nations isolating Qatar extended a deadline Monday for the energy rich country to respond to their demands by another 48 hours, allowing its top diplomat to carry a handwritten response to Kuwait’s ruler in an effort to end the diplomatic crisis. Whether another two days will be enough to end the crisis, however, may be a stretch. The crisis began June 5, as the countries cut off diplomatic ties to Qatar over their allegations that the world’s top producer of liquefied natural gas uses its wealth to fund extremist groups and has overly warm ties to Iran. Qatar long has Family members escort Farhad Mazhar out of a Dhaka court yesterday after the court hears his statement about his abduction the day before MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU Kuwait’s ruler Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah, center right, looks at a letter from Qatar’s ruler given to him by Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, center left on Monday, July 3, 2017 AP denied funding terrorists, while it maintains communication with Iran as the two countries share a massive offshore natural gas field. UAE foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said on Tuesday that Arab countries were still awaiting a response to their demands via mediator Kuwait. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt are pressing Qatar to shut its al-Jazeera news TV station and scale back relations with Iran, Saudi Arabia’s arch-rival in the Gulf region, part of 13 demands they want Doha to fulfill to end the crisis. Qatar has said it delivered a response to mediator Kuwait, which will be discussed by the four countries at a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday after their deadline for Doha to accept the demands expires late on Tuesday. Officials from the UAE and Saudi Arabia have suggested that further sanctions, including the possibility of kicking out Qatar from the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, could be imposed if Doha failed to heed the demands. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump spoke with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim, as well as Saudi King Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. What comes next remains in question. If Qatar doesn’t agree to the demands, the nations could push forward with financial sanctions or pushing the country out of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a regional body that serves as a counterbalance to Iran. •
Page 1: SECOND EDITION WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2
Page 5 and 6: News 5 WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2017 Only
Page 7 and 8: News WEDNESDAY, 7 JULY 5, 2017 DT J
Page 9 and 10: Indian forces kill 3 rebels in Kash
Page 11 and 12: News 11 WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2017 UP
Page 13 and 14: Opinion 13 DT WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 20
Page 15 and 16: Opinion 15 How to stop Kim Jong-un
Page 17 and 18: Feature 17 WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2017
Page 19 and 20: Sports 19 DT WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 201
Page 21 and 22: Sports 21 WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2017 D
Page 23 and 24: Moushumi seeks to disengage herself

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