Flour prices shoot up

Wheat flour prices have increased significantly in the markets which pushed the sufferings of consumers further when a large section of people is in economic distress because of Covid fallout.

Within a week, prices of packed flour have increased by Tk 5 for one kg packets and by Tk 8-10 for 2 kg packets in the market.

Mohammad Shapon, owner of Bismillah Traders at Mirpur, told The Business Post, “The price of branded coarse flour has increased by Tk 5 in per kg. Currently, 2kg ACI Pure Flour (Atta) is being sold at Tk 92, compared to Tk 84 a few days ago. Teer Flour (Atta) 2 kg pack now costs Tk 92 which was Tk 84.50 earlier. Bashundhara Flour (Atta) 2 kg now costs at Tk 92 which was 82 earlier and 2 kg pack Fresh Flour (Atta) now costs at Tk 90 which was Tk 82.”

Two kg pack of Sunshine flour (Atta) is being sold at Tk 90 and 2 kg Sunshine flour (Maida) is being sold at Tk 110. Sellers said the price of Sunshine brand flour also rose by Tk 5 per 2 kg.

Md Tulu, owner of M/S Madina Traders at Mirpur, said, “Fifty kg bag of flour (maida) is now being sold at Tk 2,400 which was Tk 2,300 to Tk 2,350 a few days ago. I don’t know the exact reason behind the price hike.”

Currently, loose flour (atta) per kg is being sold at Tk 35 to Tk 38 which was Tk 33 to Tk 34 a few days ago.

The traders apprehend that the price of flour will rise more in the coming days.

They said the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis might be a reason for the flour price hike in the domestic market.

According to the data of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the country imported 5.4 million tonnes of wheat in the fiscal year 2020-21 as against 6.4 million in the 2019-20 fiscal year.