India to resume rice export to Bangladesh

India decides to lift a ban on export of rice up to 5.5 lakh tonnes to Bangladesh and proposes to adopt its 10 worst affected villages as part of overall assistance package.

Sharing the grief of cyclone-hit Bangladesh, India on Saturday decided to lift a ban on export of rice up to 5.5 lakh tonnes to the neighbouring country and proposed to adopt its 10 worst affected villages as part of overall assistance package.

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External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee made these announcements here as he handed over a fresh consignment of Indian relief material to Bangladesh's Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Chowdhury at the Zia International Airport soon after his arrival for a daylong visit.

He noted India has already supplied relief material, including medicines, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, tents and portable water purifiers worth about Rs 6 crore since the cyclone 'Sidr' struck Bangladesh on November 15, killing around 3,500 people besides causing widespread devastation.

"India has always attached high importance to its relations with Bangladesh... It is, therefore, but natural that, like always, we stand by Bangladesh in its efforts to rebuild the lives of those affected by the cyclone," Mukherjee told reporters.

"I have come in a situation which is painful for the people of Bangladesh and all of us," he said as he expressed "deep sadness" on behalf of Indian government and people over the tragedy that struck the friendly neighbour.

Given the magnitude of the natural calamity, he said, India has decided to waive the ban on export of rice to Bangladesh for additional five lakh tonnes.

India has already announced waiver of ban on export of rice to Bangladesh for 50,000 tonnes, Mukherjee said.

Besides, 20,000 tonnes of rice is being sent by sea to Chittagong.