Rice prices go down in Hili

Rice prices have started to come down in the markets of Hili due to the government’s open market sale (OMS) and food-friendly programme, said related sources.

The locals can buy up to 5 kg of rice from OMS for Tk 30 per kg and the beneficiaries under the food-friendly programme can buy up to 30 kg of rice at Tk 15 per kg.

Due to the OMS and food-friendly programme initiatives, rice prices have started to come down in the local markets. On visiting the market on Friday, this correspondent found that the prices of different types of rice have decreased by Tk 3-4 in the local markets along with sales.

Mamun Hossain, a retail rice seller in Hili Bazaar, said the gold-5 variety rice was sold at Tk 48-50 per kg in the retail market last week. On Friday it is being sold at Tk 45-46 per kg.

Sampakatari is being sold at Tk 65-66 per kg instead of Tk 70, and Atash varieties are being sold at Tk 51-52 per kg instead of Tk 55. The trader also said that sales are low even after the prices came down.

Babul Hossain, a wholesale rice seller in Hili Bazaar, said rice prices were comparatively high last month before the government began importing rice from India.

More people are buying rice from the OMS and the food-friendly programme and the prices in the markets came down as the sales were low.

Hakimpur Upazila Food Controller Mostafizur Rahman said under the government’s initiative about 6 tonnes of rice is being sold daily at Tk 30 per kg in the Hakimpur municipality area through sanctioned dealers.