Dhaka, Sept 1 - Bangladesh has allowed private traders to export 10,000 tonnes of aromatic rice until December after a bumper harvest and a surge in domestic stocks, a commerce ministry official said on Tuesday.
The country, a major importer that also usually exports a small quantity of rice, banned overseas shipments of common varieties in May 2008 following a sharp drop in domestic stocks, and six months later banned the export of all varieties.
"We've allowed export of 10,000 tonnes of aromatic rice for the next four months only," the commerce ministry official said.
Bangladesh exported rice worth nearly $9 million in 2007/08 fiscal year (July-June) against $5.97 million in the previous year.
At present, the country's rice stocks are around 12 million tonnes.
The poor South Asian country often faces a food crunch due to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones.
The world's second-largest rice importer had to import rice worth over $800 million last year to meet a shortfall caused by natural disasters and to control rice prices that almost doubled. ($1=69.06 taka)