Economic Reporter :
The prices of rice showed significant increase in the city’s kitchen markets in the last few days amid ongoing corona pandemic.
The retailers blamed the millers, middlemen and wholesalers for the rice price hike. Visiting different kitchen markets in the city on Monday, this correspondent found that the prices of different varieties of rice increased by Tk 400-500 at each sack of 50 Kg.
Traders said that Siraj brand Miniket rice was selling at Tk 2500 per sack (50 Kg), while Razzaq brand rice was selling at Tk 2450. Besides, Kajollota was selling at Tk 2400, Guti Sharna at Tk 2300 and Najirshail Tk 2400 per sack.
But the prices of the rice were at least Tk 400-500 less in the previous week, they added.
Abdur Malek, a wholesaler of Shyambazar area, said the prices of the rice are on increasing as the millers have increased the prices and they started to sell rice at the increasing prices from June 9.
Siraj Miniket was selling at Tk 2480, Razzaq Miniket at Tk 2430 and Sagor Zira at Tk 2380 at the city’s Shyambazar wholesale market, he informed.
On the other hand, Meftahul Islam, a vendor of Jurain Balurmath area, said that the prices of almost all brands rice increased in the last one week.
He said, the rice normally comes from Chapainawabganj, Pabna, Natore, Bagura and Mymensingh, but the prices of rice have increased in all the areas.
Meanwhile, the fine variety of Miniket rice (non-packed) was selling at Tk58-62 a kg, Zira rice at Tk58, Sagor at Tk56, Sharna at Tk 50 and Kajollota at Tk50-55 a kg in the retail markets. The rice was selling at an increase of Tk5 a kg the markets.
Fine variety of Najirshail (non-packed) was found selling at Tk60-70 a kg in retail markets, which was Tk53-60 a kg earlier. Standard variety of Najirshail (non-packed) was selling at Tk55-60, which was previously Tk45-55 a kg. Packed Najirsail was found retailing at Tk78 a kg, marking a rise by Tk10 a kg.
“The price of all types of rice has increased. Prices of a 50-kg sack of Miniket have shot up by Tk400-500 in the wholesale markets. So, the retail prices also increased,” said Abdur Rahman, a trader of a kitchen market in Malibag.
He alleged that the rice mill owners have raised the prices due to supply shortage of boro paddy.
Arif Hossain, owner of Talukder Rice Mill at Natore, said the prices of rice increased as they have to buy paddy at high prices due to insufficient supply.
The prices of rice showed significant increase in the city’s kitchen markets in the last few days amid ongoing corona pandemic.
The retailers blamed the millers, middlemen and wholesalers for the rice price hike. Visiting different kitchen markets in the city on Monday, this correspondent found that the prices of different varieties of rice increased by Tk 400-500 at each sack of 50 Kg.
Traders said that Siraj brand Miniket rice was selling at Tk 2500 per sack (50 Kg), while Razzaq brand rice was selling at Tk 2450. Besides, Kajollota was selling at Tk 2400, Guti Sharna at Tk 2300 and Najirshail Tk 2400 per sack.
But the prices of the rice were at least Tk 400-500 less in the previous week, they added.
Abdur Malek, a wholesaler of Shyambazar area, said the prices of the rice are on increasing as the millers have increased the prices and they started to sell rice at the increasing prices from June 9.
Siraj Miniket was selling at Tk 2480, Razzaq Miniket at Tk 2430 and Sagor Zira at Tk 2380 at the city’s Shyambazar wholesale market, he informed.
On the other hand, Meftahul Islam, a vendor of Jurain Balurmath area, said that the prices of almost all brands rice increased in the last one week.
He said, the rice normally comes from Chapainawabganj, Pabna, Natore, Bagura and Mymensingh, but the prices of rice have increased in all the areas.
Meanwhile, the fine variety of Miniket rice (non-packed) was selling at Tk58-62 a kg, Zira rice at Tk58, Sagor at Tk56, Sharna at Tk 50 and Kajollota at Tk50-55 a kg in the retail markets. The rice was selling at an increase of Tk5 a kg the markets.
Fine variety of Najirshail (non-packed) was found selling at Tk60-70 a kg in retail markets, which was Tk53-60 a kg earlier. Standard variety of Najirshail (non-packed) was selling at Tk55-60, which was previously Tk45-55 a kg. Packed Najirsail was found retailing at Tk78 a kg, marking a rise by Tk10 a kg.
“The price of all types of rice has increased. Prices of a 50-kg sack of Miniket have shot up by Tk400-500 in the wholesale markets. So, the retail prices also increased,” said Abdur Rahman, a trader of a kitchen market in Malibag.
He alleged that the rice mill owners have raised the prices due to supply shortage of boro paddy.
Arif Hossain, owner of Talukder Rice Mill at Natore, said the prices of rice increased as they have to buy paddy at high prices due to insufficient supply.
The prices of rice increasing day by day as there are scarcity of miniket and zira rice in the markets, he added.
Noor Nabi Patwari, a resident of Rampura, said, “It’s all about syndicate that price of paddy forced the low. Some government officials are reportedly involved in this syndicate.”
Refuting the allegation, Layek Ali, General Secretary at the Bangladesh Auto-Major and Husking Mill Owners’ Association, said, “We are not responsible for the increase in prices of rice; retailers and wholesalers increased the prices.”
