15 Dec 2025
The Bangladesh government has moved to import 300,000 tonnes of rice from the international market as public food stocks fall sharply, a step aimed at stabilising prices and ensuring adequate supplies for food assistance programmes. The decision, however, has drawn mixed reactions from analysts, who argue that the ongoing aman harvest will soon replenish domestic supplies and reduce the need for large-scale imports.
Stocks Fall Below Recent Levels
According to the Ministry of Food, government foodgrain stocks stood at just over 1.31 million tonnes as of 17 November, comprising rice, wheat and paddy. Of this, nearly 1.17 million tonnes were rice. This marks a steep decline from 2.13 million tonnes of foodgrain stocks, including 1.95 million tonnes of rice, recorded in August 2025 when the interim government completed one year in office.
In response to the drawdown of nearly 800,000 tonnes over the past three and a half months, the government has reactivated import plans to rebuild reserves and maintain market stability.
Emergency Procurement Approved
At a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Economic Affairs on 18 November, chaired by Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, the Food Ministry sought approval to procure rice under emergency provisions. The committee recommended policy approval to import 300,000 tonnes of rice through international open tender, invoking Rule 102(1)(a) of the Public Procurement Rules 2025, which allows for shortened procurement timelines in emergency situations.
Separately, the Advisory Council Committee on Government Purchase approved the import of 50,000 tonnes of non-basmati parboiled rice from Singapore-based Aditya Birla Global Trading Pte Ltd at a cost of approximately BDT 2.16 billion, with a per-tonne price of US$354.19.
Earlier, the government had announced a plan to import 500,000 tonnes of rice by December 2025, including 400,000 tonnes through international tenders, as part of its contingency strategy.
Officials Cite Market Stability, Buffer Needs
Md Jamal Hossain, Additional Director General (current charge) of the Directorate General of Food (DG Food), said international rice prices remain favourable, making imports a viable option to strengthen reserves.
“Although current stocks are adequate, an additional buffer helps ensure security,” he said, noting that the extension of food assistance programmes by one month has raised demand by an estimated 150,000 tonnes of rice.
He added that the government is unlikely to import the full approved volume at once. “Each procurement package is 50,000 tonnes. After importing one or two packages, if stocks and prices remain comfortable, the government may choose not to proceed further despite having approval,” he said, emphasising that aman procurement beginning this week will further support stock levels.
Demand, Imports and Production Context
The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) estimates annual rice demand at 35–38 million tonnes. Production shortfalls caused by floods and other natural disasters are typically met through imports. In FY 2024–25, Bangladesh imported 1.3 million tonnes of rice, including 835,000 tonnes through government channels and nearly 470,000 tonnes by private importers.
For the 2025–26 aman season, the government has set a procurement target of 700,000 tonnes, comprising 600,000 tonnes of parboiled rice, 50,000 tonnes of atap rice, and 50,000 tonnes of paddy. Procurement prices have been fixed at BDT 50 per kg for parboiled rice, BDT 49 per kg for atap rice, and BDT 34 per kg for paddy. The drive will run from 20 November 2025 to 28 February 2026.
Economists Urge Caution on Imports
Agricultural economist Dr Jahangir Alam Khan cautioned against large-scale imports during the aman harvest, arguing that fresh supplies will soon reach the market.
“There is no immediate need to import rice now. Aman production this year will not cause any shortage,” he said, adding that wheat imports are more critical due to domestic shortfalls. He warned that unnecessary rice imports could depress local prices, harming farmers, especially when domestic prices are already easing.
Dr Khan also criticised the government’s procurement structure, noting that most rice is purchased from millers rather than directly from farmers. “Direct procurement of paddy would benefit farmers more and strengthen domestic production,” he said.
Balancing Reserves and Farmer Interests
While the government maintains that imports are a precautionary measure to ensure food security and price stability, analysts stress the importance of aligning import decisions with domestic harvest cycles. As aman supplies increase in the coming weeks, policymakers face the challenge of balancing reserve management with protecting farmer incomes and optimising the use of foreign exchange.