Bangladesh, Once the World’s 3rd Largest Rice Producer, Now an Importer

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh, a nation of 180-190 million people, was once the third-largest rice-producing country in the world. However, within just a year, food production in the country has dangerously declined, turning Bangladesh into a rice-importing nation. Rice is now regularly imported from countries like India, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Despite being a small country with limited land, Bangladesh excelled in producing rice along with vegetables, fish, meat, and other essentials. Now, the decline has raised questions among the public: why this regression?

Adding to the concern, Bangladesh is importing rice from countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, and Pakistan, which rank lower on the list of top rice-producing nations.

Recently, two ships carrying 35,000 metric tons of rice from India and Vietnam arrived at Chattogram Port. These included 22,500 metric tons of parboiled rice from India and 12,500 metric tons of white rice from Vietnam.

According to a press release signed by Food Ministry Senior Information Officer Imdad Islam, 22,500 metric tons of parboiled rice arrived from India via the MV Tanis Dream through an open tender. Meanwhile, under a G2G agreement dated February 3, the MV Hong Linh-1 carried the second shipment of 12,500 metric tons of white rice from Vietnam.

Under this G2G agreement, Bangladesh is set to import 100,000 metric tons of rice from Vietnam. The first shipment of 17,800 metric tons has already arrived, and unloading activities have started after sample testing.

Earlier, on March 15, the MV Mariam brought 26,250 metric tons of white rice from Pakistan under a G2G agreement. Similar shipments were recorded earlier in March, with two ships delivering 37,250 metric tons of rice to Chattogram Port, including 26,250 metric tons from Pakistan and 11,000 metric tons from India.

These imports are just from March, illustrating how rice is being transported monthly via sea and road routes.