Enough salt in stock, do not pay heed to rumour: Ministry

The government has urged all not to get confused with misleading information over shortage in salt stock and its price hike.

The country has over 6.5 lakh tonnes of salt in its reserve. Of the amount, more than four lakh tonnes lie with salt farmers in Cox's Bazar and Chattogram and around 2.5 lakh tonnes of salt is at different salt mills, said a press release of the industries ministry.

Also, there is a sufficient stock of salt available with dealers, wholesalers and retailers of various companies across the country. Besides, the season of salt production has started from this November. Newly produced salt in Kutubdia and Moheskhali upazilas of Cox's Bazar district has also started coming to market.

The demand for salt in the country is around one lakh tonnes per month whereas the reserve is 6.5 lakh tonnes. So, there should not be any suspicion of a salt crisis, said the release.

Earlier another press release of the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation said a syndicate is spreading a rumour about salt crisis to destabilise the market in a hope of gaining more profit.

"There is no shortage in salt. At present, the salt stock in the country is much higher than the demand," said Md Mostaque Hassan, the chairman of BSCIC.

A control room has already been opened at the headquarters of BSCIC under the direction of the Ministry of Industries to monitor salt issues. One can contact the control room through the following phone numbers: 02-9573505 (Land Phone), 01715-223949 (Cell Phone).

On Monday, a rumour spread out from Sylhet that there is a shortage of salt in the country. People were seen calling up relatives to stock up on salt. There were long lines in front shops, some even vandalized shops in search of salt.

Most salt traders and the local administration ensured repeatedly that this nothing but a hoax. Still, some traders hiked the price of salt. Mobile court had fined several traders with Tk2 lakh for selling salt at a higher price.