It is the peak season. Rice is also being imported from India. This has increased the supply in the market. Still, the price is unstable due to millers’ manipulation. In the space of two weeks, fine rice has increased by Tk10 per kg and is being sold at a maximum of Tk 85- Tk 86. At the same time, coarse rice has increased by Tk 5- Tk 7 per kg and has reached a maximum of Tk60. This is making consumers hesitant to buy rice even in the season. In addition, the price of meat is going beyond the reach of buyers. A kg of broiler chicken is being sold at Tk 220. There is also discomfort in the price of fish. However, the price of vegetables is decreasing due to increased supply. It was learned from talking to buyers and sellers on Friday while visiting the retail markets in the capital.
It was learned from talking to retailers that miniket rice is being sold at Tk 82- Tk 85 per kg on Friday. Which was Tk 75 two weeks ago. Nazirshal is being sold at Tk 80- Tk 86 per kg. Which was previously sold at Tk 70- Tk 78. Besides, among coarse rice, golden rice is being sold at Tk55-60 per kg. Which was earlier sold at Tk50-55. Besides, among medium-sized rice, BR 28 variety rice is being sold at Tk60-65. Which was sold at Tk58-60 two weeks ago.
Owner and rice seller of Allah Dan Rice Agency in Kawran Bazar in the capital, Md. Siddiqur Rahman said that the full season of Aman is going on in the country. New rice from farmers has come to the market. It is also being sold. Along with this, rice imported from India has also come to the market. This has increased the supply. There is no shortage compared to the demand. But it has to be sold at a higher price. Because the mill has suddenly increased the price of all types of rice by Tk 5- Tk 10 per kg. Due to which the price has increased in the wholesale market and at the retail level. Therefore, if the price is monitored at the mill level, the price will come down. This will benefit the consumers.
Meanwhile, the price of meat is going beyond the reach of the buyer. On Friday, broiler chicken is being sold at Tk200-220 per kg. Which the buyer has been having to buy at this high price for a week. Besides, white layer chicken is being sold at Tk250 per kg and red layer is being sold at Tk300. Golden chicken is being sold at Tk300-320 per kg. Desi chicken is being sold at Tk650-700. Along with this, beef is being sold at Tk750-780 per kg.
Uncomfortable fish prices are also there. Although the supply in the market is sufficient, a kilogram of poor pangasius is being sold at Tk 200- Tk 220. In addition, native koi is being sold at Tk800 per kg, cultivated koi at Tk350, horn at Tk 400- Tk 450, native magur at Tk 800, bane at Tk 800, rui at Tk 300- Tk 350 per kg, big katal at Tk 450, small katal at Tk 350, carp at Tk 280 per kg. Besides, pabda is being sold at Tk 360 per kg, tilapia at Tk 230, shrimp at Tk 800, mala at Tk 350 and shoal at Tk 900- Tk 1000 per kg. Md. Hakim, who came to Kawran market to buy daily necessities on the holiday, said that when he came to the market, he saw that the price of rice had suddenly increased. The price of nothing in the market is not stable. Sellers increase the price of each product every week and cut into the pockets of consumers. The price of fish cannot be touched. So, when I came to the chicken market, I saw that even broiler chicken is being sold at Tk Tk210 per kg.
There is no relief in anything. SM Nazer Hossain, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), told Daily Industry that multiple organizations monitor the market. But consumers are not getting any benefit from this. Officials conduct raids whenever the price of products increases. But monitoring is not done at the level where the manipulation has taken place. As a result, unscrupulous people take this opportunity to harm consumers more. He said that Ramadan will begin in a few months. If the market management is not overhauled from now on, buyers will suffer more. Meanwhile, consumers have expressed some relief in the price increase due to the increase in the supply of winter vegetables in the market. Vendors said that on Friday, long brinjals are being sold for Tk 50 per kg, round brinjals for Tk55-60, carrots for Tk50 per kg. Cabbage and cauliflower are being sold for Tk30 per kg. Turnips are being sold for 30 taka per kg, raw tomatoes for Tk30, bitter gourd for Tk 70- Tk 80 per kg, beetroot for Tk80 per kg, tomatoes for Tk60 per kg, cucumber for 60 taka per kg, string beans for Tk60 per kg, string beans without strings for Tk40, green chillies for Tk 80, papaya for Tk50 per kg, new potatoes for Tk 50 per kg and sweet pumpkin for Tk Tk40 per kg.
