The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The price of rice is once again up in the wholesale and retail markets despite a Government attempt to stem the rising price of the staple food item by launching Open Market Sale (OMS) on subsidised rates. The price of edible oil and vegetables remained steady in the market last week, while price of flour has increased.

Price of all varieties of rice has increased by Tk 50 to Tk 150 per bag in the wholesale market, which impacted the retail market with a rise of Tk 5 to Tk 8 per Kg.

A trader at Karwan Bazar said, "The government has announced market supervision by the joint forces to keep the rice price down. As a result, many rice traders increased the price of rice prior to the move that will begin today (Saturday)."

Meanwhile, a manager of Asha Traders at Babu Bazar said, "As rice is in short supply at the moment, the wholesale price has slightly increased. However, when rice will arrive from abroad the price will come down."

While visiting different markets yesterday this correspondent found that in the city's retail markets per kg of 'miniket' rice was sold at Tk 46 to Tk 48 and 'nazirshail' at Tk 42 to Tk 45. Dinajpur variety of 'nazirshail' was sold at Tk 44 to Tk 46 and 'Lata-28' at Tk 40 to Tk 42 per kg.

Besides, 'pari' was sold at Tk 35 to Tk 37 and 'paijam' at Tk 38. Coarse rice was sold at Tk 35, price of which was the lowest in the market.

Under the government's current OMS programme, coarse rice is sold by close to 2,000 dealers nationwide, with more than 25,000 metric tonnes allocated for the purpose.

According to the latest data from the central bank's foreign currency policy research cell, in the first six months (July-December) of the current fiscal year (2007-08), a total of 998,000 (9.98 lakh) tonnes of rice was imported, compared to 173,000 (1.73 lakh) tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

Rice traders and experts said that the trend of rising rice import would continue till the boro crop was harvested. Concerned groups are therefore urging the government to take measures to reap a bumper boro harvest.

Meanwhile, prices of green chilli fell down last week. It was sold at Tk 20 to Tk 24, which was Tk 32 in the previous week.

Prices of edible oil did not decrease. Soyabean oil of different brands of 500 ml and 900ml container was sold at Tk 60 and Tk 110 respectively at Karwanbazar, New Market, Palashi kitchen market, Mohammadpur Town Hall market and Krishi market.

The price of a litre of loose soyabean oil was sold at Tk 100. In the BDR-run fair price shops, unpacked soyabean oil was sold at Tk 84 per litre, two-litre bottle at Tk 176 and five-litre bottle at Tk 435.

In the city's kitchen markets, per kg of bean was sold at Tk 14, green chilli at Tk 20 to Tk 24, potato at Tk 14 to Tk 16, tomato Tk 20, radish at Tk 8 to Tk 10, carrot was sold at Tk 16, papaya at Tk 10 to Tk 12, turnip at Tk 8 to Tk 10, oval-shaped brinjal at Tk 15, korolla at Tk 20, long beans at Tk 20 and green tomato at Tk 10. A piece of cauliflower was sold at Tk 12, cabbage at Tk 10 and gourd at Tk 20.

Meanwhile, a small measure of 'lalshak' (red vegetables) was sold at Tk 5, 'palong shak' at Tk 5 to Tk 7, 'data shak' at Tk 3 to Tk 5 and middle sized 'data shak' at Tk 5 to Tk 6.