Commerce Ministry on Friday signed an amended memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh, extending an agreement on unfilled sales of Thai rice

The existing MoU requires Bangladesh to import up to one million tonnes of parboiled rice from Thailand from last year to this year. The change will extend the deadline to import the rice to 2016.

Last year, Bangladesh imported no rice from Thailand because it had ample domestic supply.

Bangledesh has a population around 160 million people who each year eat about 35 million tonnes of milled rice. The country produces about 38 million tonnes a year.

Bangldesh Minister for Food Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said the amended MoU will ensure food security for his country. He admitted that whether Bangladesh imports Thai rice this year depends on its own rice production and whether a natural disaster makes it necessary.

The ministry will review the situation in May and June, he said.

In 2011, Bangladesh had to import two million tonnes of rice because of natural disasters. When this happens, the country normally buys rice from Thailand, Vietnam and India.

"If Bangladesh faces a food crisis, Thailand will be the first priority when the Bangladesh government considers where to buy rice, even though Thai rice costs more than its competitors, because Thailand has a good relationship with the Bangladesh government.

"Thailand will offer good conditions when Bangladesh has food crisis," Mr Razzaque said.

Source: Bangkok Post