Even as onion prices cause an uproar in Bangladesh's markets, the prices of all kinds of rice are rising.

Wholesalers, mill owners and retailers all say with one voice that there is no logical reason for rice prices to rise like this at this time.

Food Minister Sadhan Majumder has himself said the country has adequate rice stocks and there is no shortfall in supply. The ministry had even taken precautions in advance so that no crisis would arise during the recent Cyclone Bulbul.

According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), fine rice is selling today at Tk 48 to 60, with ordinary-quality nazir/miniket at Tk 48 to 53 and better-quality rice at Tk 53 to 60. Coarse rice such as swarna, china and IRRI is selling at Tk 35 to 40.

A week earlier, on 11 November, coarse rice sold at Tk 28 to 40, and thin or fine rice was between Tk 45 and 56.

Rice prices had also jumped suddenly at this time last November. Before that, in September 2017, when rising rice prices caused an outcry, the then commerce minister accused two rice mill leaders of hoarding and warned that they would be arrested.

This time, with onions at the centre of heated debate, people are asking why rice prices are going up.

In response, Kawsar Hossain, owner of Shilpi Rice Agency at Babubazar in the capital, said rice is now selling at an average of Tk 4–5 a kg more than it usually does at this time of year.

Source: BBC Bangla. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.