Govt has decided to cut the import duty on rice by another 5% to make the essential commodity more affordable for consumers. The decision came at a Cabinet meeting, when Prime Minister instructed the authorities concerned to effect the decision. Once the decision comes into effect, the import duty on rice will be halved from the existing 10%. The meeting also discussed the recent hike in the price of onions caused by floods across the country. Meanwhile, private importers, anticipating the duty slash, are delaying in having the already imported rice released at the country’s two main land port -Hili in Dinajpur and Benapole in Jessore. Over 200 trucks loaded with some 7,000 tonnes of rice were standing still at the ports on 9 August. As rice prices continue to remain high, the food ministry on July 25 proposed to allow import of the staple on zero tariffs.