http://thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=30987
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Moeen bins rice crisis
Unb, Dhaka
Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday dismissed the
notion of any rice crisis in the country, saying "a crisis has been
created".
"Where's the crisis? There's no crisis. Crisis has been created. Price
has increased, but there's no crisis," he told re****ters after
visiting the Karwan Bazar wholesale market in the city.
General Moeen observed that people went on panic buying of rice from
market. If one consumer buys four sacks of rice, it will affect the
market, he said.
"Inshallah, there'll be no problem if we can tackle the situation for
next 20 days," he said.
Seeking positive role from the media, the army chief said it is the
responsibility of all to stabilise the market. He called on the market
associations to ensure that same variety of rice is sold at the same
price.
Dealers have enough stock of rice, he said adding that there is no
Indian rice in the market -- all of it was grown in the country.
"Millers are charging high, thereby causing the price hike."
The army chief expressed the hope that the country will have a good
Boro harvest this year.
On the bumper harvest of potato, Gen Moeen said this year 80 lakh
tonnes of potato have been produced but there is a preservation
capacity of only 20 lakh tonnes.
He advised people to change their food habit and eat rice along with
more potato everyday so that potato farmers get fair price and become
encouraged to grow potato next year too.
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