January 05, 2008	Saturday	Zilhaj 25, 1428

DHAKA, Jan 4: Bangladesh’s army chief has expressed concern at the spiralling cost of rice in the impoverished country following the destruction of crops in natural disasters last year, a report said on Friday.

“We are very much concerned about the price hike. I’ve personally talked with the chief adviser (head of the military-backed government) on how to control it,” General Moeen U. Ahmed was quoted as saying by the private UNB news agency.

Mooen attributed the price rises to higher costs in the international market and the loss of rice crops in last summer’s floods and November’s Cyclone Sidr.

He added that the situation was compounded by hoarding both among the public and mill owners looking to increase profits.

“This should be looked into,” he added.—AFP