Soybean oil is harmful: Tipu Munshi

PBC News:  Mentioning that the government is planning to increase the production of rice bran and mustard oils as an alternative to soybean oil, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said soybean oil is harmful for the body.

The minister told reporters after the second meeting of the task force committee on commodity price review at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Wednesday.

“The country now produces 50 to 60 thousand tons of rice bran. It is possible to carry the production to 7 lakh tons. If we can do that then it would be possible to meet 25 percent of the total demand. Besides, rice bran is better than soybean oil,” said Tipu Munshi.

The Commerce Minister said 84 per cent of the country’s wheat imports come from India.

“Even if the country imposes a ban on wheat exports then it would not be fully applicable to Bangladesh. Apart from that, there is nothing to fear in the stock of wheat in the country at the moment.”

About oil price hike, Tipu Munshi said, “Oil price has increased in the domestic market due to price hike in the international market.”

He said, “The country could produce 7 lakh tonnes of rice bran oil. So instead of relying on imports, the government is focusing on rice bran oil production.”

Commerce Ministry Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh was also present, among others, at that time.