Authorities have cancelled licences of 188 rice mills in Pabna district for as they failed to supply rice and paddy to the government godowns at official rate under the ongoing food procurement drive.

The cancellation order, issued on July 1 from the district food control office in Pabna, has been sent to the concerned millers, said official sources.

Of the 188 mills, 161 are in Ishwardi upazila, 15 in Pabna Sadar upazila, five in Atghoria upazila, three in Chatmohar upazila, two in Bera upazila and one each in Bhangura upazila and Sujanagar upazilas.

"Following their refusal to supply rice at the government fixed rate, the district food procurement committee recommended cancellation of licences

of 188 rice mills in Pabna,” Md Jahangir Alam, Pabna district controller of food, told this correspondent yesterday.

The government procurement rate is Tk 28 per kg for rice and Tk 18 for paddy in tire current Irri-Boroseason.

Procurement of rice in the district, targeted at about 53,705 tonnes this year, will continue till August 31, official sources said.

"The mill owners who earlier signed contact with the government for supplying rice are now failing due to its high price in the market. We have urged the government to sanction incentive bonus for the millers to enable them to cope with the loss," Md Idris Bishwas, president of Rice Mill Owners Association Pabna district unit, told this correspondent over phone yesterday.