Benapole, Feb. 15 -- free import of 13,968 tonnes of rice from India over the past three months, prices have not decreased in the markets of Benapole and Jashore. On the contrary, rice prices have risen by Tk 1-2 per kg over the past week.

In response, the government has extended the deadline for rice imports from India. Allocated importers will now be able to bring in rice until March 15, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Food on February 5.

It stated that the deadline for opening letters of credit (LCs) for non-Basmati parboiled and Atap rice imports has been extended until March 15.

Importers attribute the high rice prices to elevated costs in India, making it difficult to sell imported rice at lower prices in t...