The price of rice is increasing in the kitchen markers at the different parts of the country, including Dinajpur, despite the government’s efforts to control it.
Although it was announced from the authorities concerned that there is no reason for price hike of essentials and the government would take stern action against those involved in abnormally hiking the rice price, the rice traders are cashing in on the coronavirus crisis which is causing deaths and heavily disrupting daily life.
Visiting different kitchen markets in Dinajpur, it was witnessed that the prices of some medium and finer varieties of rice rose by Tk 5.00 to 7.00 per kg at the retails in a week, battering the consumers. However, many of the panicked shoppers are seen loading up on daily essentials, including rice, onion, egg, edible oil and milk, as the number of COVID-19 patients in Bangladesh rose to 20 on Friday with one confirmed fatality.
It was found that the price of a sack of 50kg rice has increased by Tk 250 to Tk 450. The rice traders said that the price has increased due to additional demand of consumers amid coronavirus outbreak. On the other hand, the consumers are blaming the traders for the abnormal price hike. They called upon the authorities concerned to take action in this regard.
Visiting the NA Market Bahadur Bazar in Dinajpur town on Saturday, it was found that Najirsahil rice was being sold at Tk 60 per kg which was being sold at Tk 55 a week ago, while the BR-28 was being sold at Tk 45 which was being sold at Tk 40 a week ago, Miniket at Tk 55 instead of Tk 48, and BR-29 at Tk 40 instead of Tk 36.
President of Dinajpur Rice Mills Owners Association Md Mosaddek Hossain said that the price of rice has increased due low supply of paddy.
He, however, admitted increase of consumers’ demand. Md Moyez Uddin, a consumer who came at a kitchen market in Dinajpur to buy rice, on Saturday said that the rice traders increased the price abnormally. He called upon the local administration to strengthen the market monitoring system.
