In Sherpur, Bogura, one of the main rice producing and trading centres of northern Bangladesh, medium and fine paddy have risen by as much as Tk 150 to 200 a maund in a month. From the mill gate to the retail shop, buyers are now paying Tk 4 to 8 more for a kilo of rice.
Traders and local sources say medium paddy went from Tk 1,100 a maund to Tk 1,200 to 1,300, and fine paddy from Tk 1,800 to Tk 1,900 to 2,000. Medium rice that cost Tk 45 to 46 a kg a month ago now costs Tk 50 to 56. Fine Katari rice is Tk 78 to 79 at the mill and Tk 84 to 85 at retail.
In Bogura town, Ranjit rice sells for Tk 50 to 52 a kg, BRRI-28 for Tk 54 to 55, Miniket for Tk 70 to 75 and Katari for Tk 75 to 80. Polao rice is the exception, having eased to Tk 150 to 160.
Millers and traders say that beyond paddy, electricity bills, wages and fuel prices have all pushed up costs, including transport. Miller Akram Hossain said higher costs often keep them from getting the price they want. Retailer Amir Hossain said shopkeepers must make a profit after paying for transport, loading and running a shop.
K G M Faruque, editor of the Campaign for Good Governance (Supro), said officials should not watch only the retail market but should examine costs and margins at every stage from the purchase of paddy onwards. Construction workers Jahidul Islam, Omar Faruque and Sabuj Mia said their incomes have not risen and they are borrowing to get by.
Md Mehedi Hasan, an assistant director at the Bogura office of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, said his team monitors the market regularly. Legal action will follow any proof of irregularities or an artificial shortage, he said.
Photo: Scott E. Justice / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Source: samakal
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