DHAKA: Food Minister Abdur Razzak said the government decided to re-enforce the anti-hoarding law 1953 that was revoked in 1991.

“In the present situation the law needs to be reintroduced,” said the minister at a press conference after a meeting in the ministry Wednesday, in the wake of an upturn in the market.

There should be a specific law for preventing hoarding, he said.

Prior to revival of the law, opinion from all concerned bodies would be taken, Abdur Razzak said.

Replying to a query the minister said price of per-ton food has increased from 379 US dollars to 400 within one and a half months due to prolonged draughts in various countries, including Vietnam and Russia.

Regarding flood situation in the country, the Food Minister said, “Flood in September is not natural. Still the floods help rise in the country’s water levels that went down alarmingly.”

“Sufficient relief goods are being distributed among the flood-affected people and we are trying our best to minimize their sufferings,” he added.

BDST: 1800 HRS, SEP 16, 2010