India Resumes Rice Export To Bangladesh

India has resumed export of rice to Bangladesh, following a promise made by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee during his visit to the cyclone-affected areas of the country last year.

The minister had promised to export five lakh MT of rice to Bangladesh relaxing an earlier ban. Bangladesh has already received some 1.20 lakh MT of rice from India under the deal after last year's floods and cyclone Sidr.

Production shortfalls caused by subsequent floods and the devastating cyclone and soaring food price in view of a global deficit exposed Bangladesh to a severe crisis earlier this year forcing the interim government to launch a desperate import campaign.