Rice prices shooting up too

Rice prices have gone up by Tk 1.5 to Tk 4 per kg in Dhaka markets over the last five days.

Different varieties of Miniket rice sold for Tk 70 to Tk 77 per kg in retail markets across the capital yesterday. Last Tuesday, they sold for Tk 66 to 74 per kg.

Retail traders were selling BR-28 and BR-29 varieties for Tk 60 to Tk 65, up from Tk 56 to Tk 62 before.

Guti, Swarna, Paijam and Nazirshail prices rose by Tk 1.5 to Tk 2.

"Normally, the demand for rice goes down during Ramadan, so the price remains stable. But the situation changed this year. This is the first time I have seen rice prices increase during Ramadan," said Abul Kalam, proprietor of Lamia Enterprise at Dhaka's Kachukhet.

Millers blame the price surge on the "paddy crisis".

"The price of paddies is soaring. This is contributing to the rise of rice prices," said Chitta Majumder, adviser of Bangladesh Rice Mill Owners Association.

He said the staple prices will go down next month when Boro paddies will likely hit the market.

The situation at wholesale markets is similar.

In some northern districts, prices of various varieties of rice, including coarse varieties, have surged by Tk 2 to Tk 3 per kg.

The hike occurred in just three days in Dinajpur and its adjoining districts.

The price of a 50kg bag of Guti Swarno rice was Tk 2,150 a few days ago, but now it costs Tk 2,300, said traders at Gudri Bazar in Dinajpur.

A local resident of Dinajpur, Ariful Islam, expressed his frustration at the rising prices, saying he now has to pay an additional Tk 3 per kg. "Nothing seems to be affordable anymore," he said.