Bangladesh facing rice crisis, says Army Chief

Dhaka, Jan 5: Bangladesh Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed has expressed concern over the shortage of rice in the country.

Rice is the staple diet to most Bangladeshis. The country is facing a catastrophe over rice supplies, Ahmed said adding that the problem must be redressed immediately. "If we think it is a catastrophe and work together, we can overcome the crisis," BBC quoted Ahmed, as saying. Many people have been hit hard by spiralling food prices.

Ahmed blamed the global market for the price rice. India recently raised its price of rice from 425 dollars a tonne to 500 dollars a tonne.

Higher transportation costs have also been blamed for the rise following a damaging monsoon and the aftermath of November's cyclone.

The government says that it is taking measures to tackle the problem.

It has introduced schemes like food-for-work programmes and other schemes to feed vulnerable and poor people.

Officials say that the government currently has about 600,000 tonnes of food grains.

A minimum stock of one million tonnes is needed to meet emergencies such as November's cyclone in which over 3,300 people were killed and millions became homeless, officials added.

ANI