The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Prices of essential commodities including rice have increased 5 to 10 per cent last week due to short supply.

Meanwhile, prices of milk powder and fish also increased further while price of onion has declined. Other essentials remained somewhat stable.

While visiting different city markets this correspondent found that per kilogram of rice of fine variety 'najirshail' was selling at Tk 42 to Tk 44 as against Tk 38 to Tk 40 a week ago and Tk 36 to Tk 38 a month back in different retail city outlets.

At Karwan Bazar, the wholesale rate of fine grade 'najirshail' per maund (37.3 kilogram) was Tk 1,520 to Tk 1,540. Wholesale rate of old stock 'najirshail' was between Tk 1,320 and Tk 1,340 two weeks ago.

Abu Hanif, a rice wholesaler at Karwan Bazar, said, "It is unbelievable that the price of fine rice kept rising even after the completion of harvest when we find a significant fall in the rice price. The rice price is increasing as the farmers in the country's northern regions are stocking up the just harvested paddy."

Meanwhile, consumer rights activists said that the sharp and latest round of rise in rice prices were adding to the miseries of the fixed and limited income-group people as they were already struggling to cope with the sharp rise in the prices of major essential commodities.

Moreover, a rice miller hailing from a northern district said that newly harvested 'paijam' and 'najirshail' varieties of paddy were selling at Tk 750 to Tk 780 while the old stocks between Tk 550 and Tk 580.

Rice millers are not finding adequate supply of rice in local markets as farmers are unwilling to sell their stocks as the forecast of the post cyclone SIDR food shortage is prompting them to continue the stock for getting the higher prices in the coming days, he added.

Coarse rice was selling at Tk 26 to Tk 27 as against Tk 23 to Tk 25 a week ago and Tk 22 to Tk 24 a month back.

Traders opined that the rumour of a food shortage might also result in further increase in the prices of coarse rice, as the harvest of 'boro,' will begin after at least five months.

Meanwhile, prices of onion started to become cheaper as its supply increased significantly following the withdrawal of ban on onion exports by India.

In the city markets, Indian onion was selling at Tk 22 to Tk 26 per kilogram yesterday, down from Tk 44 to Tk 48 a week ago and Tk 52 to Tk 60 two weeks back.

Despite the significant fall, the price of local variety of onion was still high with a kilogram selling at Tk 40 to Tk 55 against Tk 68 to Tk 72 a week ago and Tk 70 to Tk 76 two weeks back.

Prices of vegetables continued to decline in the past week with satisfactory supply of winter produce. Potato price was stable at its high rate of Tk 26 to Tk 28 per kilogram.

The prices of some other commodities that remained stable are cooking oil, flour, chilli, beef and broiler.

The non-packed soyabean oil was selling at Tk 90 to Tk 92 per kilogram, bottled soyabean per litre at Tk 88 to Tk 92, sugar at Tk 30 to Tk 32, packed flour at Tk 38 to Tk 40 and chilli at Tk 66 to Tk 80.

Beef was selling at Tk 170 to Tk 180 per kilogram, broiler at Tk 75 to Tk 80. The price of fishes continued to rise due to declining supply.

Price of milk powder also increased further this week. It was selling at Tk 515 to Tk 525 per kilogram, up from Tk 510 to Tk 520 a week ago.