Staff Reporter :
The prices of all verities of rice have become costlier again in the city’s market amid the ongoing lockdown situation.
Rice prices have gone up by Tk 100-150 per 50 Kg sack further in the last two days due to excessive demand of the key food staple, traders said.
According to state run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) the rice price increased by 5-9 per cent compared to same time of the last year.
Government, however, said the rice price will be declined soon as the people started harvesting paddy in various part of the country.
The countrywide lockdown is underway and the Ramzan is knocking at the door. Under this situation, the consumers are stockpiling commodities fearing further hike. Most of the consumers are buying more than their demand, the traders said.
By taking this opportunity, the vendors are increasing the price, the consumers blamed.
Ghulam Rahman, President of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), told The New Nation, “The government has imposed countrywide lockdown without any preparation. In fact, the announcement of the lockdown has created panic among the people.”
“The dishonest traders have taken the chance from it and have increased the rice price as per their whims as there was no government monitoring,” he added.
He further said the consumers are bearing the brunt of high prices of essential food items but the government has apparently no headache in this regard.
Gutiswarna rice was selling at Tk 2,350-2,400 per sack, which was Tk 2300 in the last week. BR-28 verity of rice was selling at Tk 2250-2300 per sack, which was Tk 2200, miniket at Tk 3150-3200 per sack, while nazishile at Tk 3300-3500 per sack in the city’s market on Tuesday.
Visiting different market, this correspondent found that the coarse rice was selling at Tk 50-52 per kg, medium at Tk 65-60 and fine rice at Tk 68-82 in the city’s markets.
Md Anis Khan, owner of M R Traders at Kawran Bazar, said that the rice price has been increased by Tk 2 per Kg due excessive buying pressure amid the ongoing lockdown situation.
Noor Uddin, a consumer at Karwan Bazar, said, “I have bought a sack of miniket rice by paying Tk 100 higher than the previous week.”
“Such an increase is absurd. It clearly reveals that the market is being manipulated by syndicates for their own benefit. Strict supervision is of utmost necessity,” Noor said.
He further said the government should intervene the rice market immediately.
