iGrain India - Bangladesh's government has issued a new international tender for the import of 50,000 tonnes of rice due to significant damage to its domestic paddy crop.
Torrential rains and severe floods in August and October destroyed around 11 lakh tonnes of rice, severely impacting the country's rice supply.
The Bangladesh Agriculture Ministry has acknowledged this shortfall, necessitating large-scale rice imports to control rising prices.
The tender invites offers for non-Basmati Sela rice, to be delivered on CIF liner-out terms, which means the cost should include shipment to the Chittagong and Mongla ports, along with unloading at the ports.
The rice can be sourced from any country, but the consignment must arrive in Bangladesh within 40 days after signing the contract.
While Indian exporters were successful in the previous tender due to the affordability and swift shipment from India—given its large rice exportable stock—the political relations between India and Bangladesh have been deteriorating.
Despite the economic advantages of importing rice from India, Bangladesh may look to alternative suppliers, such as Pakistan or China, though importing from these countries might be less cost-effective and involve delays.
The government’s decision will depend not only on economic factors but also on political considerations amidst growing domestic pressures.