Wholesale and retail prices of rice have increased this week compared with the previous week in this peak Aman harvesting season.
Traders have attributed the rise to breakdown of supply system because of the frequent strikes and blockades by the BNP-led 18-Party alliance.
In this one week, rice prices went up by Tk 2-3 a kg at the retail market and by Tk 50 per 50-kg sack at the wholesale market.
On Friday, per kg of Minicate rice was sold at Tk 45-50 against Tk 45-48 in the previous week. New Najirshail sold at Tk 48-50 a kg and old Najirshail at Tk 56-60 per kg against Tk 46-48 and Tk 52-56 per kg respectively.
Prices of fine Swarna rice was Tk 38-40 per kg, Parija Tk 36-38, and BR-28 and Lata Tk 40 – all went up by Tk 2-3 per kg from that of the previous week.
“There is no shortage of rice and paddy. Production is sufficient. But the prices are going up unusually because of supply interruption,” Babubazar Rice Traders Association General Secretary Nizam Uddin told bdnews24.com.
He said they were not getting supply of even one-third of their daily requirement of rice.
Joypurhat Rice Mills Association President Layek Ali said the millers could not procure paddy from the farmers because of the political turmoil.
Directorate General of Food chief Ahmed Hossain Khan said they were keeping a watch on the price situation and would launch the open-market sale programme if prices increased further.
He said sufficient quantity of rice had been in government storage to operate OMS.
Source: Bd news24