A cargo vessel from Pakistan carrying rice is set to arrive at Mongla seaport for the first time since independence.
The Pakistan flagged-carrier vessel-loaded with 25 metric tonnes (MT) of rice left Karachi Qasim port a few days back and is expected to anchor at Chittagong port within two or three days, reports UNB.
After unloading 60 percent of rice there, the vessel with the remaining quantity of rice will move towards Mongla, said sources.
A Government to Government (G2G) deal between Bangladesh and Pakistan was inked at the beginning of the last month to import 50 MT of Basmati rice through Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP).
As per the deal, first consignment of the rice is on its way to Bangladesh and the second consignment is expected to come at the end of the current month.
Indrajit Sarker, deputy controller at Khulna office of controller of movement and preservation said that 40 percent of the 25 MT of rice will be unloaded at the Mongla port.
Khulna District Assistant Food Controller (additional charge) Tayebur Rahman stated that there are 47,000 MT of rice in the central food warehouse of Boyra and Maheshwarpasha.
The capacity of the two warehouses is one lakh metric tonnes, he added.
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
