India would be exporting around 500,000 tn of parboiled rice to Bangladesh as the country is facing a shortfall of 1.5 mln tn rice this year because recent floods have affected crops. Bangladesh is importing the grain to meet its domestic demand and to create a buffer stock. The Indian government has authorised National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation to export rice to Bangladesh. Bangladesh food ministry has called for a meeting on Oct 15 to decide on the prices and time-frame for supply of rice from India. Around 150,000 tn rice has been already exported to Bangladesh by private traders this fiscal year. The agency is expected to source parboiled rice from eastern states such as Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Odisha for export to Bangladesh as the region has similar food habits.