Rice prices will see a cut by Tk 2-3 per kg in a couple of days, said rice traders on Tuesday.

‘Rice prices will be slashed by Tk 2-3 per kg from tomorrow (Wednesday),’ KM Layek Ali, general secretary of Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Mill Owners’ Association, told a meeting on the rice prices at the Food Ministry, reports the UNB.

Food, Agriculture and Commerce ministries sat with the rice mill owners, traders and importers amid its skyrocketing prices.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food Ministry Abdur Razzak, among others, attended the meeting held with Food Minister Qamrul Islam in the chair.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, the Food Minister said the government will launch the Open Market Sale (OMS) of rice at the upazila level on Wednesday.

 He, however, said the food friendly programme which was scheduled to begin on Wednesday will remain halted for unavoidable circumstances.

The government launched the OMS service of rice across the country on Sunday. This year, white rice is being sold at Tk 30 per kg in the OMS programme.

At the meeting, traders and mill owners blamed the use of jute bags for packaging rice for the price hike, demanding allowing them to use plastic bags.

Following the demand, Tofail announced to put on hold the ban on the use of plastic bags for the next three months.

Issuing a note of warning, Qamrul said actions will be taken against the traders and millers if anyone is found involved in creating artificial crisis of rice after hoarding those in warehouses.