Rice hoarders should be fined equal to their stocks: Food minister

Rice hoarders should either be fined equal to their stock or sued to ensure that they can no longer continue business, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar has said.

The minister has also warned that if necessary, hoarders should be sent to jail.

"They cannot be spared with a nominal fine," he said while addressing a divisional level views-exchange meeting with stakeholders related to controlling rice price hikes at the conference hall of the Rajshahi deputy commissioner's office.

He instructed rice mill owners to be more transparent about rice prices.

"You will write the name of the rice and the mill gate price on the sack. Write the mill gate price, not the maximum retail price."

The minister warned that retailers who sell rice at high prices and shift the blame onto mill owners will face consequences for their actions.

"You [mill owners] all need to come clean first. Then, action will be taken against the retailers," added Sadhan.

Prof Shafiqur Rahman Badsha MP, Food Secretary Ismail Hossain and Director General of the Directorate General of Food Shakhawat Hossain Kabir were present at the meeting with Commissioner of Rajshahi Division Dewan Humayun Kabir in the chair.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Anisur Rahman and Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Biplob Bijoy Talukder also spoke on the occasion.