The government of Bangladesh will not allow any import of salt this year to ensure fair prices of salt produced by local farmers, said the Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu.

“We are self sufficient in producing salt and capable to meet the country’s total demand, therefore we are not going to import any salt from foreign destinations this year," said the minister while addressing a national workshop on 'Ensuring Universal Iodized Salt' jointly organised by Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

Currently about 84 per cent of households consume iodized salt, but only 58 per cent of the local salt is properly iodized, said the minister, adding that the government has targeted to increase both of these ratios to 100 per cent by the year 2016.