Tk 332cr Barishal silo remains underutilised amid staff shortage

BARISHAL, July 13: Built at a cost of Tk 332 crore to strengthen food security in Bangladesh’s disaster-prone southern region, the modern grain silo in Barishal remains largely underutilised nearly a year after its inauguration. 

Of its 16 storage bins, 15 are lying empty, while only 427 tonnes of rice are currently stored against its total storage capacity of 45,000 tonnes.

Officials attribute the slow operation to a combination of staff shortage, lack of operational funding, inadequate security and the inability to use the adjacent river jetty due to poor navigability.

Located on nearly seven acres of land beside the Kirtankhola River in Barishal City’s Trish Godown area, the silo was inaugurated on August 10, 2025, with the objective of ensuring uninterrupted food supply during cyclones, floods and other emergencies in the country’s southern districts. However, the facility has yet to function as originally planned.

According to silo authorities, no dedicated operational budget has been allocated since its commissioning. Electricity bills are currently being paid from the budget of the Mongla silo, while payments to workers engaged in loading and unloading rice remain overdue.

Even routine office expenses, including stationery and other basic supplies, have accumulated as unpaid bills, raising concerns about the continuity of operations.

Rakesh Biswas, Acting Superintendent of the Barishal Grain Silo said, “We need 42 staff members, but no permanent posts have yet been approved. At present, operations are being managed by 20 officers and employees on deputation from other silos. We also requested 15 Ansar personnel for security, but none have been deployed. We expect to store 6,000 tonnes of rice in two of the 16 bins within this month.”

Officials said the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has signed an agreement for dredging the area adjacent to the jetty, and the tender process is now underway. River transport is expected to begin once dredging is completed. Despite the current limitations, authorities plan to increase storage gradually.

Regional Food Controller Nakib Sad Saiful Islam said the silo is not yet being used at full capacity because no separate storage target has been assigned for the facility. About 66,000 tonnes of rice are currently stored in government food warehouses across the region, he said.

Nakib Sad Saiful Islam further said, during the commissioning phase, around 3,000 tonnes of rice were stored in two bins for testing purposes. Those stocks were later distributed to other government warehouses. At present, the silo holds around 500 tonnes.