Rice prices go up by Tk 8 in a week
Prices of rice increased up to Tk 8 a kilogram in a week with the rise in the staple prices by Tk 2 a kg on Sunday in city markets.
Food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder requested business people not to increase the prices of rice unnecessarily.
Against the backdrop of sudden hike in rice prices, the minister held a meeting with rice miller at the auditorium of the Directorate General of Food in the city on Sunday.
The prices of fine varieties of rice increased by Tk 2 a kilogram on Sunday in the city markets.
The fine variety of Miniket rice was selling for Tk 55-62 a kg while its coarse variety was retailing at Tk 53-54 a kg.
The fine variety of Najirshail rice was retailing at Tk 58-62 a kg and its standard variety at Tk 52-55 a kg.
The coarse variety of Sawrna rice was selling for Tk 38-40 a kg while BR-28 rice was retailing at Tk 42-46 a kg in the city markets on Sunday.
Earlier, the prices of some varieties of rice increased by Tk 6 a kg in the city markets between Monday and Tuesday.
To control the unusual surge in prices of rice, food minister on Sunday arranged a meeting to know the reasons behind the price hike.
The millers informed the minister that prices of rice increased as the prices of paddy went up in the market, said a participant of the meeting.
‘We have huge quantity of rice stock and we have instructed mill owners not to increase the prices of the staple food,’ Sadhan Chandra told reporters after the meeting.
He said the food habits of Bangladeshi people have been changed and most of the people including day labourers prefer to take fine variety of rice.
The prices of fine variety of rice increased in the market as the changing food habit of consumers put pressure on the item, he said.
The minister also said the prices of paddy went up in the market and now growers are getting high prices.
Bangladesh Auto Rice Mill Owner’s Association president AKM Khorshed Alam Khan said the food minister instructed them not to increase the prices of rice.
‘I think there was no need to be worry about the rice prices as sufficient paddy remained stock in the country,’ he said.
‘We requested the government to ensure smooth transportation of rice. If transportation of rice is interrupted due to enforcement of Road Transport Act 2018, the prices of the staple may increase,’ Khorshed said.
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net
