Chattogram Bureau :
In Chittagong there is instability in the rice market. The price of rice has increased in three weeks. In spite of having sufficient stock, the price of 50 kg bag of rice in wholesale has increased from Tk 200 to Tk 300. Low and middle income people are in trouble. In the retail market, rice has to be bought at an additional price of Tk 2 to Tk 7 per kg.
Mill owners and traders of Chittagong said that the price of rice has increased due to floods. Chittagong has been affected by floods in the southeastern part of the country. Moreover, about 80 percent of rice in Chittagong comes from outside Chittagong. Almost all mills in Chittagong are now closed. Meanwhile, farmers are not releasing paddy in the market to fetch higher prices. The price of quality rice has increased by another step.
Several markets of Chittagong city have been visited, the prices of all types of rice have increased. Miniket is currently selling at Tk 65 to Tk 70, Jirashail at Tk 67 to Tk 69 and Pajamas at Tk 58 to Tk 60. Which is 4-5 taka more per kg than before. Coarse rice gold is being sold at Tk 48 to Tk 50 per kg.
Before the flood in the country i.e. till last August 20, normal quality coarse boiled rice was sold at 2000 taka per sack of 50 kg in Chittagong market. But now the price of that rice has increased and is being sold at Tk 2,400. Similarly, fine golden rice of Tk 2,200 is being sold at Tk 2,600, Nurjahan gold of Tk 2,500 at Tk 2,800 and Jirashail at Tk 3,250 at Tk 3,450. The price of all types of rice has increased from Tk 200 to Tk 300 per bag.
In Pahartali and Chaktai area of rice wholesale market of Chittagong. Among them there are few rice mills in Chaktai area. From two and a half years, rice is supplied to other markets in Chittagong.
When asked about the increase in the price of rice, Chittagong Rice Mill Owners Association President Farid Uddin Ahmed told this correspondent , “About 80 percent of rice in Chittagong comes from Dinajpur, Noakhali, Feni, Bogra outside Chittagong.
Now the supply of paddy is less in these places. Almost all mills in Chittagong are now closed. 20-25 percent of the mills are in operation, again for a fixed period of time. Meanwhile, farmers are not releasing paddy in the market to fetch higher prices. You know different floods or the general situation of the country. Now supply depends on paddy. But now the price of quality rice has increased another step, not all rice. The price will not increase in the future, traders hoped.