By IANS
Dhaka : Bangladesh has sought details from India about the price and delivery schedule of the proposed import of 500,000 tonnes of rice, urgently required in view of last month’s cyclone.
Food and Disaster Management Advisor Tapan Chowdhury said Wednesday that Dhaka was awaiting word from New Delhi, which has indicated that it required time to procure the large quantities that would be sent in five consignments.
Faced with a shortage of its own, India relaxed the ban on rice export only for Bangladesh on grounds of humanitarian concerns. Cyclone Sidr left more than 3,000 people dead last month and led to crops being devastated causing a supply crunch.
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had made the announcement during his brief tour of Dhaka on Dec 1, reported the New Age.
Chowdhury said Bangladesh would negotiate the price once India responded.
He dismissed the possibility of food shortages in the country, which has this year been hit by serial disasters – two floods and the cyclone.