Rice prices still high

To bring down the rice prices, the government has taken various measures, including reducing import duty, taking legal action against market manipulators, initiating the OMS programme, and kicking off the Aman paddy harvest in different parts of the country as soon as possible.

However, there is no sign of a reduction in the prices of this staple food in the market.

Traders are saying that fear of food shortage has spread across the market. In this situation, there is a lot of anxiety about whether the prices will decrease even during the peak of Aman season.

Many mill owners said Aman production will be good this season and they are hopeful that the prices will go down.

During visits to several markets in Dhaka city, including Shegunbagicha, Mugda and Maniknagar, it was found that unpackaged thin rice such as Jirashail and Nazirshail is being sold at Tk 72-80 per kg.

Medium-quality rice such as Paijam, BR-28, BR-29, Kajal Lata and Jira Nazir is being sold at Tk 60-67 per kg.

Also, coarse rice is being sold at Tk 50-58 per kg.

Alamgir Hossain, a rice seller at the Maniknagar market, said they have been selling rice at these prices for the past one and a half months.

“Although Indian rice has entered the market in significant quantities, prices are still not dropping. Instead, the wholesalers are hinting that prices may go up again. This is spreading some panic,” he said.

“Prices will increase in the wholesale market because most of the rice has been stocked up by some big companies,” he added.

Reached for comment, Food Secretary Md Ismail Hossain told The Business Post, “Even if there is a danger of food shortage in the country, our preparations are sufficient. The government is helping to increase the import of rice and wheat.”

“Besides, the yield of Aman paddy was expected to be low due to lack of rainfall at the beginning of the season. But now we think that there will be no shortage due to the adequate rainfall later,” he added.

According to Food Ministry data, the government has so far approved the import of about 12.5 lakh tonnes of rice. The import duty on rice was once 62.5 per cent but now it has been decreased to 15 per cent.

Farhad Hossain, general secretary of Naogaon district’s Rice Mill Owners’ Association, said farmers have already started harvesting Aman paddy in some upazilas of the district. “The prices of coarse and medium quality rice will hopefully come down once harvesting starts in full swing.”

Meanwhile, the prices of sugar and lentil have risen while the price of edible oil has dropped in the market this week.

In the last two days, the price of unpackaged white sugar has increased to Tk 110 per kg. It was Tk 90 at the beginning of this week.

Besides, the price of lentils has started to increase after a few weeks of decline. It was being sold at Tk 102-105 per kg on Thursday, which was Tk 100 per kg last week.

In the meantime, the prices of farm chicken and eggs have remained stable but the prices of chickens, including broilers, have increased.

Farm chickens were sold at

Tk 140 per kg in various markets on Thursday. Broiler chickens were sold at Tk 180-185 per kg, which was Tk 170-175 last week.

Also, golden chickens were sold at Tk 320 per kg on Thursday, which was Tk 300 per kg last week.