Dhaka, Oct. 9 -- Import of the second staple food, wheat, witnessed a drastic fall in the first quarter (July-September) of the current fiscal year, raising concern over the country's food security in coming months, insiders say.

Private importers have bought in less than 0.4 million tonnes during the period when prices of wheat flour hit an all-time high of Tk 55 (coarse) to Tk 75 (finer) a kg.

Considering imports in any of the first quarters since FY '11, wheat import in Q1 of FY '23 hits a 12-year low, according to the food ministry data.

In the last fiscal year, FY '22, a total of 4.0 million tonnes of wheat was imported, a seven-year low, amid global price surge in the third and fourth quarters, the data show.

Low imports and a m...