The government has permitted 428 business firms to import 1,702,000 tons of rice at a lower duty rate on conditions aiming to keep the rice market stable in the country.

The Ministry of Food sent a letter in this regard to the Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce on Monday (August 30).

The conditions include the imported rice can have a maximum of 5 percent broken grains. The LC (Letter of Credit) has to be opened within 15 days of the issuance of the allotment order and the relevant information (including the Bill of Entry) has to be communicated to the Ministry of Food by e-mail immediately.