'Red rice i losing out to shiny rice' : 1,500 husking mills closed in 6 years unable to survive competition in Dinajpur
Mahidul Islam Ripon, Dinajpur
The reddish rice produced by husking mills is losing out to the polished and shiny rice produced by auto rice mills in the market. In addition, due to various crises including labor shortage and lack of capital, husking mills are closing down day by day in the rice district of Dinajpur, unable to survive in the competition.
Nearly 1,500 husking mills have closed in Dinajpur district in the last 6 years.
The journey of commercial husking mills or small rice mills began in the 1980s in Dinajpur, a district known for its rice. Apart from Dinajpur, rice used to come to these mills from various districts including Mymensingh and Netrokona. The number of such mills has increased since 2000. But since 2015, the industry has been gradually losing its luster. The industry is now on the verge of extinction due to the shortage of labor and capital, the high demand for rice, and the competition from large corporates.
Husking Mill: A traditional small or medium-sized rice mill in Bangladesh. Rice is made by parboiling, drying, and breaking the rice in a machine to remove the husk. Its rice is usually not as shiny as the extra-polished rice of an auto rice mill, but is slightly reddish and crumbly.
Recently, while visiting various mills in Dinajpur Sadar, Birol, Bochaganj and Birganj upazilas, it was seen that most of the husking mills are closed. The rice soaking houses of these mills are lying empty, the mill boilers and other equipment are practically non-existent. They are lying empty. And the rice drying sheds are drying corn or other food items.
Biswanath Roy, owner of the Hasking Mill in Azimpur village of Birol upazila of Dinajpur, said that he established the mill in the 1990s. It was running well in the beginning. But now, due to various problems including labor shortage and demand for rice from auto rice mills, his mill has been closed for ten years.
Hafizur Rahman, the entrepreneur of a husking mill in Raniganj area of Dinajpur Sadar Upazila, said that he built a husking mill on about 2 acres of land around 1990. The once bustling mill is now suffering from a labor shortage. Hafizur Rahman said, the situation is very bad now. Now even the electricity bill we pay is a loss. There are no mechanics. We want to hire mechanics, but will people crush paddy?
Hafizur Rahman's son Selim Hossain is suffering from the frustration of not being able to maintain the family business. Selim Hossain said that they are trying to maintain the license by making some renovations to the husking mill's mill and drying the corn.
According to the District Food Department, there were 2,180 husking mills operating in Dinajpur in 2019. This has decreased to 703 in 2025. This means that the number of husking mills in Dinajpur has decreased by 1,477 in 6 years. Although some mills are operating on paper, they are no longer producing.
Dinajpur District Food Controller Monirul Islam said, consumers are now preferring auto rice mill rice over husking mill rice. As the rice produced by husking mills is not sold in the market, husking mill owners are withdrawing from the market themselves, unable to survive in the competition.
Shahidur Rahman Patwari, Vice-president of Bangladesh Auto, Major and Husking Mill Owners Association, said that the financial capacity at the corporate level is very large. Moreover, the production cost is low due to their advanced technology. He said that unlike the times, husking is disappearing, major has come.
Despite various adversities, some husking mills are still surviving. One such mill is that of Mojibur Rahman in Pulhat Khowarer More area of Dinajpur Sadar Upazila. The 75-year-old entrepreneur has been in this business for three decade
He said, "Polishing rice from auto rice mills causes the quality of the rice to be lost. But although the rice from husking mills is slightly reddish, the quality of the rice here remains intact. That is why those who understand this still prefer husking mill rice."
