Dhaka: The government decided to import around 25,000 tonnes of sugar for keeping the price of the essential item reasonable during the month of Ramadan.

“A proposal has already been approved by the Cabinet purchase committee to import the quantity of sugar,” disclosed Industry Minister Dilip Barua at a press conference at his office in the city Thursday.

“Apart from this, we have also a target to import up to 1 lakh tonnes of sugar, if necessary,” the minister said, about a contingency measure of the government to deal with any unusual market situation.

The ruling government earlier increased the price of sugarcane for farmers’ sake and the decision did not affect the consumers, he added.

Replying to a query, the minister said many industries, including the sugar industry, faced extinction due to the faulty policy introduced by the last four-party alliance government.

17:20 hrs, 20 April 2010
JI/HS/MRH/SMS/MUA