The rice market is not coming under control at all. No initiative, including duty and tax exemptions on imports, sale at subsidized prices, and drives, is proved effective to rein in the high price of rice.
Ships filled with are being anchored on a regular break. Two consignments of rice have already arrived from India and another consignment is expected to arrive from Myanmar this week. Besides, the government has already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pakistan for rice import.
Despite government’s initiatives, the rice price has reach record high.
The government agency Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) itself says that the price of coarse rice has increased by 12 percent in a year while fine rice price has increased by more than 14 percent, affecting the leaving conditions of general people.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) pointed out the syndicate as one of the main reason.
Yesterday, at the retail Raisaheb Bazar, next to Babu Bazar, one of the wholesalers in the capital, no type of rice was available below Tk 64. Miniket rice is being sold at Tk 75 to 80. Nazirshail Rice is being sold at Tk 88. Jeera Nazir Rice is sold at 75 to 85 taka, Katari Nazir Rice at 80, 29 Nazir at 65 taka, Atash rice at 64 taka, Rashid Miniket at 80, Basmati rice at 95 taka, and Chinigura rice at 120 to 130 taka. Rice is being sold at similar prices in other markets in the capital as well.
According to the TCB, currently coarse rice or Swarna rice is being sold at 54 to 58 taka. Exactly a year ago, it was 48 to 52 taka, increasing by percent. The medium rice Atash/ Paijam is being sold at 60 to 65 taka. Fine rice or miniket is being sold at 70 to 84 taka. A year ago, this rice was sold at 60 to 75 taka. The price of Miniket rice has increased by more than 14 percent.
According to the Food Ministry, the government is working to control the price of rice. The second consignment of rice imported from India has already arrived at the Chattogram port. After that, the rice consignment from Myanmar is expected to arrive at the port this week. In addition, the government signed a memorandum of understanding with Pakistan on Tuesday to import rice.
On the other hand, the rice consumers from lower-income class to middle-income class are in misery. They said: “Even during the harvesting period, the price should not have increased by this much.”
“Traders are looting the market through syndicates while consumers are losing money,” they furthered and called the government to implement their plan in the field level rather uttering it verbally.
CAB general secretary Advocate Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan told Bangladesh Pratidin that the government has not brought any syndicate under punishment so far. As a result, the syndicate is getting opportunities again and again.
“Despite abundance, there is no way of increasing rice price,” he said. “Those who are not supposed to do rice business have also bought it and stored it in warehouses. Imports cannot be a permanent solution.”
Translated by Afsar Munna
