Bangladesh writes to India to import 10 lakh tonnes of wheat

Bangladesh has requested India to import 10 lakh tonnes of wheat amid the spiralling global prices of the food grain.

A letter has recently been written to India requesting it to export 10 lakh tonnes of wheat to Bangladesh but no feedback has yet been received, said a top official of the food ministry, told the Business Insider Bangladesh on Monday.

Following an outcome of a meeting of food and commerce ministries, the food ministry has recently built a government-to-government communication and then written the letter to the neighbouring country, said the official.

Besides, Livemint.com, a business website in India on Monday published a report quoting a government official that at least five countries including Bangladesh have requested India to lift its ban on exporting wheat.

The four other countries are Indonesia, Oman, UAE and Yemen, reports the business website.

Earlier on May 13, India imposed the ban on wheat exports amid spiralling global prices but it kept open the option of government-to-government (G2G) supplies for neighbouring countries and others who may be facing a food security threat.

“Following the ban India has received requests from Indonesia, Oman, UAE, Bangladesh and Yemen. The government is evaluating their wheat requirements and availability of wheat with us,” it reports.

Bangladesh imported wheat worth $1.8 billion from Russia and $610.80 million from India in 2020, according to official data.

India emerged as the largest exporter in the outgoing fiscal year (FY22) so far fetching 66 percent of Bangladesh’s total wheat imports, surpassing Russia.

Dependence on India for wheat might increase further due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, said the United States Agricultural Department (USDA) in a report, published recently.