Narinjara News, 19 January 2025

Nearly 22,000 metric tonnes of Atap rice from Myanmar, transported by MV Golden Star vessel has arrived at Bangladesh’s Chittagong port with the agreement of Myanmar junta and the current interim government in Dhaka.

"Chittagong port received 22,000 metric tonnes of Atap rice from Myanmar," said a report by The Financial Express quoting  UNB on 18 January.

The rice consignment, imported on a government-to-government (G2G) initiative, marks the first shipment of its kind under the caretaker government in Dhaka, said the concerned ministry through a media release.

It said samples from the shipment will undergo physical testing before unloading begins and all necessary arrangements were made to ensure a smooth process.

This shipment follows a separate agreement between Bangladesh and Pakistan also to import rice.

On 14 January, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed at the food ministry level  between the two countries.

The procurement process will commence following approval from the government’s purchase committee and shipments from Pakistan are expected to begin arriving by next month.

Dhaka believes that the MoU would  stabilise the domestic rice market while fostering economic and trade relations between the two countries. It is expected to open a new chapter in strengthening bilateral ties and ensuring food security, added the report.