Rice prices gradually come down in Khulna

The prices of rice are starting to come down in the retail and wholesale markets of Khulna to the relief of low and mid-income people.

According to market-related sources, this is due to regular market monitoring by the government, selling products through TCB-verified dealers, the Open Market Sales (OMS) programme and free distribution of rice among destitute women under the Vulnerable Women's Benefit (VWB) project.

During a market visit on Tuesday, this correspondent found that the price of all types of rice has come down by Tk 2-3 in several markets of Khulna city. Coarse rice is selling at a wholesale price of Tk 44-45 and at Tk 46-48 retail price.

Medium-grain rice is selling at a wholesale price of Tk 51-53 and at Tk 54-57 retail price. Fine-grain rice is selling at a wholesale price of Tk 68-70 and at Tk 70-73 retail price. The prices are lower by Tk 2-3 prior to last week.

Raihan Dewan, the owner of Sohag Banijya Bhandar, a wholesale rice trader in one of Khulna's markets, said the demand has decreased due to the availability of OMS and VWB rice distribution programmes. The prices are gradually lowering in all the markets as a result.

Sabuj, the owner of Sabuj Store, a retail rice seller in the same market, said that there are few buyers in the market. “Sales are dwindling. Earlier 7 to 8 sacks of rice were sold daily. And now 4 to 5 sacks of rice are being sold.”

Some 82,481 beneficiaries under the union parishads in Khulna District can buy 30 kg of rice at Tk 15 per kg. So far the dealers have raised 474 tonnes of rice.

Under OMS, rice is being sold at 37 points in Khulna city at the rate of Tk 30 per kg. Rice is sold at these points 22 days a month and about 62 tonnes of rice is sold per day. Besides, 23,943 people are being given rice at the rate of Tk 30 kg per month in Khulna district under the VWB project of the Department of Women Affairs.

Khulna District Food Controller Md Tajul Islam said, “Rice prices are stable in the district markets as a result of various initiatives of the government. The prices will go down further when the Boro rice hits the market soon.”

He also said that the 10 government food warehouses are fully stocked and thus rice is not being imported from India.