Bangladesh seeks assured supplies of five food commodities from India

Bangladesh has sought assured annual supplies of five food commodities, including rice and wheat, from India to tackle fluctuations in market prices and shortages, people familiar with the matter said. The two countries have held discussions on this issue and Dhaka has asked New Delhi to sign a memorandum of understanding on fixed quotas for these commodities, including onions, ginger and garlic, the people said on condition of anonymity. However, the two sides have not yet been able to reach common ground in view of sensitivities linked to the export of such commodities, said the people aware of discussions held so far. India banned wheat exports in May 2022 and exports of non-basmati rice in July 2023 to cater to domestic requirements. The government banned the export of onions for about four months last December. However, India has supplied rice, wheat and onions to countries in the neighbourhood, such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and key partners, ...