Cox's Bazar Correspondent 

From next year, the government will purchase salt directly from farmers in the fields at fair prices, announced Md. Obaidur Rahman, Secretary of the Ministry of Industries. He stated that storage facilities will be constructed in the Cox’s Bazar or Chattogram regions for this purpose, and locations are currently being scouted.

He made this announcement on Sunday afternoon while addressing a stakeholders' meeting on Strengthening the Universal Salt Iodization (USI) Program in Bangladesh held at the conference room of the Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Commenting that there is sufficient stock of salt to meet the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha demand, he added that since August 5, the Ministry of Industries has not issued any new permissions for salt imports. Salt import permissions will not be granted without necessity. The government is also considering formulating a policy on salt-related issues, which will ensure that no one can sell salt at prices higher than those fixed.

Additionally, he mentioned that the government is working to ensure that genuine salt farmers at the field level receive land allocations.

According to BSCIC (Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation), a total of 2.071 million metric tons of salt have been produced in the country so far this season.

The meeting was presided over by Additional Deputy Commissioner Imran Hossain Sajib. Among others present were BSCIC Chairman Md. Saiful Islam, former Member of Parliament and district BNP Vice President ATM Nurul Bashar Chowdhury, as well as representatives of various organizations, salt farmers, and mill owners.