Md. Atikur Rahman :
The price of rice is upwards. Especially all kinds of rice and fat. Within a week, the price of rice was increased by Tk. One and a half taka. The price of rice has risen to about 3 taka. The same condition of rice prices at retail level. Even a day before, every kilo mint rice at retail level was sold at Tk 61, but now it is selling at Tk 63-64. Likewise, the cost of Tk 41 for Tk 41 and BR-28 rice for Tk 46-48, is being sold at Tk 48-50. If this trend of inflation continues, the financial pressure of low-income people will increase further. Therefore, it is necessary to take effective measures to control the market and the Ministry of Commerce on urgent basis.
It is to be noted that the previous year due to severe flooding of Boro rice in Hawara floods. Crop loss also occurs in the second flood of the same year. In this, the rice reserves decreases abnormally and its price increases. To keep the market normal, the government is encouraged to import rice directly. Import duty is brought down to 2 percent. After that, rice was imported from India widely. This trend of import is still flowing. Although its effects are not visible in the market. Despite the lack of supply shortage, the price of the rice continues to increase.
The traders said, the price of the country has increased slightly since the present government collected rice. Due to the increase in importation, its impact has been affecting the country’s market. Due to the increase in the price of rice in India, large mill owners have also limited the supply.
Their aim is to increase the price and unjustly gain huge profits. However, the price of rice is rising again, when the amana rice rice came to the market some days ago. There will be huge supply of rice in the market with imported and aman rice. As usual, the price of rice is normal. But the current picture is inverted. It is necessary to prevent the trend.
A very effective initiative to reduce the price of rice from the public sector is not visible; Rather, different adverse comments can make the market unstable. Both the Minister of Finance and Commerce said that the price of rice should not be below 40 taka for the sake of the farmers.
This can also indirectly affect rice price increase. There is no doubt that the upward price of rice will push the low-income people into more poverty. Therefore, it is necessary to take initiatives to control the price of rice by taking into consideration the issue of government.
Although the price of rice has never been so much upward. Although the government has said it has decided to import one lakh tonnes of rice from Myanmar to bring control of the troubled rice market. This decision was made in a meeting with Myanmar delegation in Dhaka. The government says that the mill owners have been investigating the amount of rice stored in the warehouse. Action will be taken against the owners if they are stored outside the prescribed limits. Local administration in different places of the country has come out to investigate the matter. We thank the government for this initiative. But the fact that this initiative can play an effective role in controlling the rice market is actually the view to see.
Although the owners of the government’s movements say that they are skeptical about whether any such work will be done. Through such a move, rice mill can create ‘panic’ among the owners. If such a ‘panic’ is created, they think that rice business can have negative effects. At least 50 taka of rice is now in the market. Market observers say that the situation has been created due to lack of adequate rice in government warehouses.
Once upon a time, the owners did not want to sell rice to them at the price tied to the government. As a result, rice could not be collected from the market. Researchers say rice market has been rising since the long-term deficit. In September last year, the government took steps to provide 30 kg of rice every month to 50 lakh families of the country. “At that time there was a major shortage of rice.” Later, due to the improvement of the situation due to the production of boro rice, deficit was created due to the flood.
“Now when Aman’s production is in progress, there is a fear that there may not be enough production in the market, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said, “Where the artificial crisis has been created” The minister said, “Rice is available if money is given.
That means there is no shortage. We told the Deputy Commissioner and the police superintendent, to discuss with the rice mill owners in different places that there is no gathering of rice. “
He said, if there is more stock then legal action will be taken, and if there is no more stock then there is no problem. The Commerce Minister said, no order has been given to arrest any rice trader in advance. Market observers say, besides the legal steps, the most important is to collect rice in the public warehouse. If the situation is such that the government can not store the warehouses then the situation will be more destabilizing.
In such a situation, concerned people think that in addition to raising the rice reserves in the public warehouse, the private sector will be encouraged to import rice. As soon as possible to increase government’s internal reserves as well as increase the import of enough rice from the private level.
Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed reports that the government does not intend to force anybody with rice traders. With the help of various steps, the market stabilization can be brought back, that is their goal.
In such a situation, taking the necessary steps with the government very efficiently, it is necessary to accept the urgent initiative to meet this demand of the common people. How much money does a day laborer earn on the whole day if all the money is spent on buying rice, then how will he feed the family? It is important to control rice market as quickly as possible considering the low and low middle class. Above all, it is important for the government to take steps to ensure the food security of the people. The general public expectation of the government is so much that A little love and a peace of mind I hope the government will take all such steps to solve the issue with greater importance. It is necessary for the government to take urgent steps to control the current market of rice.
(Md. Atikur Rahman, Columnist and Head PR at BUFT)
