Rice imports from India have resumed through Dinajpur’s Hili land port after the government allowed shipments following a four-month suspension. Importers said that the renewed inflow has already begun to ease prices in the wholesale market.
According to Hili land port’s plant quarantine office, rice imports restarted on 12 August. Since then, 332 Indian trucks carrying 14,500 metric tonnes of non-basmati rice have entered the country. Customs officials said an initial complication over tariffs delayed clearance for several days, as the server was still showing the earlier 63.50 per cent duty. The National Board of Revenue later issued a circular imposing only 2 per cent duty on rice, allowing smooth imports, reports UNB.
Prominent importer Lalit Keshra said the decision was aimed at stabilising supplies and curbing market volatility. “Every day large volumes are coming through Hili port. Because of imports, wholesale rice prices have already dropped by Tk 2–3 per kilogram,” he said.
Another importer, Rony, noted growing demand from traders across the northern districts. On Thursday, fine quality slender rice sold for Tk 68 per kg, down by Tk 3. The Atash variety was sold at Tk 54–55, while Swarna was traded at Tk 52.
Traders from different northern districts confirmed that prices had declined compared to earlier in the week. “The same rice we bought three to four days ago is now Tk 2–3 cheaper per kg,” one wholesaler said.
Imports currently include Swarna, Sampa Katari, Ratna and Miniket among other varieties. Importers expect prices to ease further in the coming weeks as supplies continue to grow.