The prices of all types of rice have increased in Tanglail markets recently, causing significant hardship to the people of the district. In both the wholesale and retail market, the price of all sorts of rice is high.
When this correspondent visited Park Bazar, Chhoy Ani Bazar and City Bazar in Tangail district, it was seen that the price of coarse rice Haski-29 has increased by Tk 10 to Tk 12 per kg and is being sold at Tk 62 per kg. Katari Nazir is being sold at Tk 75 per kg, Kataribhog at Tk 80 per kg, BR-29 at tk 60 per kg, Miniket at Tk 75 per kg and Chinigura at Tk 130 per kg. On average, the price of 25-kg sack of rice increased by Tk 250 to Tk 300.
The price of every kind of rice increased in the Mokams as well. Moreover, there is a shortage of rice supply in the market, which also affected the price. Each 75-kg sack of BR-29 rice, used be sold at Tk 2,500 few days ago. Now it is being sold at Tk 3,000.
Owner of Messrs Khandaker Trading in Chhoy Ani Bazar, Khanaker Amir Hossain said, although the rice mills were not much active a few days ago, now they have increased the rice production. As a result, the demand of paddy increased as well. The price of paddy was low during the full Aman season. But now the price has increased. So, the farmers did not get any benefit from it.
Samej Mia, a farmer from Nagarpur upazila who came to sell rice in the market, said he had to sell the paddy at a low price after harvesting and threshing the paddy as he had to pay the due he owed to the labourers and the fertilizer shops from the planting season.
Meanwhile, the price of rice increased in the market due to the increased price of paddy. Mojnu Mia from Tangail municipal town said the sudden price increase is making it hard for them to buy rice. Previously, a 25-kg sack could be bought for around Tk 1,200 to1,250. However, now it costs Tk 1,500. The price for fine variety of rice went up by only by Tk 50 to Tk 100 per sack, while the price of rice commonly bought by poorer people increased by Tk 300. This isn’t fair.
The rice traders of Chhoy Ani Bazar said although rice is being sold at open market under the Food Friendly Programme (FFP) at Tk 30 per kg, most of the people cannot eat this coarse rice provided by the government. So the traders are more interested in selling coarse rice BR-29. So, this variety of rice sells the most. As many people are not interested in buying the rice provided under Food Friendly Programme, the rice mill owners raised the price as the demand of rice in the market increased.
Owner of Messrs Rahat Traders in Chhoy Ani Bazar, Md Abul Hossain, said they have to buy rice at a high rate from the mill owners. As a result, they are also the rice at a high rate in the market. If the mill owners lower the price, we will be able to lower the price too.
Meanwhile the rice mill owners said the price of rice is increasing due to the illegal hoarding of paddy and rice.
Although the increased price of stored rice is not benefitting the farmers, the consumers have to buy it at a high rate. The people of low- income group are suffering the most because of it.
The managing director of Shubhechha Agro Food Products Limited in Ghatial, Biplab Chandra Pal, stated that many traders are ignoring regulations and hoarding various consumer goods under the guise of stock business.
Many well off farmers are also hoarding rice. Mill owners are purchasing paddy at high prices from these traders and farmers, which is also a reason for the high price of rice.
