36,000 tonnes of rice arrive from India, Myanmar

Two ships carrying 36,000 tonnes of rice imported from India and Myanmar reached Chattogram port yesterday night.

Unloading commenced after one of the vessels docked at the port's jetty today (29 January).

Ali Akbar, CEO of Seven Seas Shipping Lines, discharge shipping agent and logistics services provider for the two vessels, told The Business Standard that Myanmar's MV ATN Victory carrying 22,000 tonnes of atap rice reached the outer anchorage at 11:15pm yesterday. It docked at the cargo berth today.

This was the fifth shipment under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement to import 1,05,000 tonnes of atap rice from Myanmar, he said.

Meanwhile, India's MV BMC Pandora carrying 14,000 tonnes of parboiled rice from Haldia port brought through an open tender reached Chattogram port's outer anchorage at 7:15pm yesterday. 

After document clearance, the ship will soon dock at the jetty, said port sources.

"Necessary measures have been taken to ensure smooth unloading for the rice shipments from Myanmar and India," says a Ministry of Food notification signed by its senior information officer and public relations officer Imdad Islam.

Earlier, on 16 January, Chattogram port received 22,000 tonnes of atap rice from Myanmar.

The upcoming consignment from Myanmar is expected to arrive in two days, said shipping agent Akbar.