India seeks to know the latest status of shipments against the letters of credit (LCs) already opened by Bangladesh for importing wheat so that they could deliver the grain leapfrogging a ban, officials say.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MoEA) of India has sought the information in response to a request by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi for India's cooperation in this regard, as wheat-flour becomes dearer here in tandem with price rises of other goods for global supply-chain disruptions.
The information is expected to help them (India) take a prompt decision on exporting the commodity under government-to-government (G2G) arrangement, they add.
Delhi wants to know, among others, about LCs, quantity, cost of export, and details of the exporters in India. "They might also check whether Bangladesh has already opened LCs for importing 0.6-0.7 million tonnes of wheat," says one official.
India has also sought a complete list of the LCs already issued by Bangladesh (both by government and private sector) prior to the date of India's issuance of wheat-export ban on May 13, 2022.
It seeks a complete scenario of wheat imports which are already under the process of shipment, with all necessary information, like where the shipment is stuck, details of traders and importers.
Delhi also wants to know about the exact amount of wheat Bangladesh requires to import from India now, in addition to the quantity ordered before the export ban.
Bangladesh is also suggested to mention whether the wheat would be imported under the G2G and B2G or B2B arrangements.
The Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi had a meeting recently with the Foreign Secretary of India, who assured of providing full cooperation in resolving this issue within "the shortest possible time once they receive the detailed information", said the officials here.
Amid soaring prices of wheat following the Indian export ban, last week, Dhaka pushed New Delhi to let the private sector import the grain alongside the G2G arrangement with a view to keeping the supply of the item stable on the domestic market and ensuring food security for the country's people.
"Besides, the food ministry earlier had asked the Bangladesh High Commission over there to look into the wheat import from India under G2G arrangement," the official said.
Russia and Ukraine are the major suppliers of wheat to the global food market. But the 'breadbasket' is currently blockaded amid the Ukraine war.
Bangladesh's annual wheat demand stands at 7.50 million tonnes, of which 1.10 million tonnes are produced locally.
The country annually imports 6.0-6.40 million tonnes of wheat from a host of countries, including its next-door neighbour India, to meet the demand.
It also imports on a G2G basis in case of emergency to ensure food security.
The wheat prices were rising globally following the Ukraine war and the Indian export ban.
Following the ban, lorries loaded with wheat consignments are reported to have been stranded on the India-Bangladesh borders.
