Home ›› 25 Dec 2021 ›› Back
Prices of the most essential commodities, including rice and chicken, continue to go up despite adequate supply, creating pressure on the middle- and low-income consumers.
Visiting several kitchen markets in the capital on Friday, including Karwan Bazar, Mirpur, and Mohakhali, The Business Post found that rice prices on average had risen by Tk 2-3 per kilogramme.
Speaking to The Business Post, Mohiuddin Harun, owner of Janani Rice Agency, at Mirpur-1 said, “Rice prices went up by Tk 2-3 per kg in the last couple of days though supply is enough now.”
“The price of coarse rice is Tk 41-42 per kg in the wholesale market, but it is being sold at Tk 43 in the retail market,” he added.
Other rice traders said Atash rice was being sold at Tk 48-50 per kg in the retail market. The price was Tk 47-48 last week.
On the other hand, in the wholesale market, old Atash rice is being sold at Tk 46 per kg, and new Atash at Tk 45.
The Miniket variety is being sold at Tk 63-65 per kg in the retail market, which was Tk 60-63 a couple of days ago. However, in the wholesale market, it is being sold at Tk 60.
Nazirshail is being sold at Tk 68-69 per kg in the retail market, which was Tk 65 last week.
Rice traders claimed rice prices might have increased due to hoarding. They said rice mainly comes from Kushtia, Dinajpur, Sherpur, Naogaon, and Chapainawabganj to the capital.
Earlier in August, the food ministry decided to import 10 lakh tonnes of rice through private importers.
The Department of Agricultural Extension said the country produced 2.8 crore tonnes of Boro rice this season, which was 1.96 crore tonnes in the previous season.
Meanwhile, chicken prices have also increased in several kitchen markets.
Traders are selling farm chicken for Tk 170-175 per kg, up from Tk 168-172 last week. They are selling sonalika chicken for Tk 280 per kg, which was Tk 270 last week.
However, onion prices have remained stable as there is enough supply.
On Friday, traders sold a kilogramme of local onion for Tk 60-70 per kg. Besides, they sold Indian onions for Tk 40 per kg, which was Tk 45 last week.
On December 5, the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) began selling essential commodities to low-income people at subsidised prices via its trucks across the country.
Each consumer is allowed to buy a maximum of 2kg sugar at Tk 55 per kg, 2kg lentil at Tk 60 per kg, two-litre soybean oil at Tk 110 per litre, and 2-5kg onion at Tk 30 per kg from TCB trucks.
