Dhaka: Food Minister Qamrul Islam said apart from rice millers, retailers, wholesalers and importers of rice and wheat will have to take license from the Directorate General of Food within October 30.

He came up with the remark after a meeting with officers of Regional Controllers of Food, and District Controllers of Food at his ministry on Monday noon.

Officials concerned were also directed to issue notice by October 10 asking businessmen and importers of rice and wheat to take license within the stipulated time, he added.

‘They will have to face legal action by mobile courts if they don’t take license within the stipulated time, ‘he said.

However, the directive is not applicable for those who are running their business with below 100 tones of rice, the Minister added.

As per Control of Essential Commodities Act 1956, rice millers, retailers, wholesalers and importers of rice and wheat have to take license from the Food Department to run their businesses. The violators of the law will have to face highest three years’ imprisonment as well as fine.

‘We have sufficient stock of rice which is increasing day by day,’ he said adding that as per Prime Minister’s directive, they have already signed G2G agreement with many countries and floated tenders to import rice.

As per the act, all kinds of businessmen will have to inform the Directorate General of Food about their stocks on every 15 days, he added.

Qamrul said businessmen can stock 300 tones of rice for 30 days. Then, they have to inform about their unsold stock to the Directorate General of Food.

Issuing a warning against rice hoarders, the minister said the government identified those who tried to create crisis in the rice market manipulating its price and law enforcers will take action after further investigation.