DHAKA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh suffered a loss of standing crops on 553,000 hectares of land in the Cyclone 'Sidr' causing economic toll of about 20 billion taka (about 286 million U.S. dollars).

    Caretaker government Agriculture Advisor Dr. CS Karim while briefing reporters Saturday disclosed the statistics but ruled out any possible food shortage as he said initiatives are underway to import rice.

    The advisor said in present situation the country would need to import a total of 1.9 million tons of rice.

    Meanwhile Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee who arrived here Saturday said his government has decided to waive banon 500,000 tons of food export to Bangladesh in the wake of cyclone.

    The cyclone Sidr, one of the fiercest cyclones hit Bangladesh in the last 131 years, slammed the country's southern and southwestern areas on Nov. 15, affecting 30 out of total 64 districts and leaving thousand people dead and millions homeless.