Dhaka, July 20 -- The interim government has decided to nearly double wheat imports in the current fiscal year (2025-26) in a bid to bridge the widening gap between local production and rising consumption.

Wheat is fast becoming a dietary staple in urban and semi-urban areas in the country with demand surging for wheat-based products such as bread, noodles, and biscuits.

However, domestic production remains limited-only around 1.1 million tonnes-compared to a national requirement of over 7 million tonnes.

According to a Food Planning and Monitoring Committee document, the government has planned to import around 8 lakh (800,000) metric tonnes of wheat this fiscal year-almost double the previous year's government procurement of 4.66 lakh...