The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The prices of different varieties of rice still remain high despite starting of 'Boro' harvest at different parts of the country.

In the city's retail and wholesale outlets prices of various categories of rice have fallen by Tk 1 to Tk 2 per compared to the price level of the last week.

Rice traders are expecting that the prices of rice will come down to a tolerable level with the completion of 'Boro' harvest.

They called upon the government to procure 'Boro' rice from the farmers soon after its harvest.

They hoped that the price of rice would continue to come down continuously in the days ahead easing the sufferings of the customers.

They suggested government to intensify vigil at the border belt of the country to check smuggling of the newly harvested 'Boro'.

"If the procurement of 'Boro' crop is done rightly and store properly then the prices of rice are expected to fall within the purchasing power of the common people," said one of the rice traders at Babubazar rice market.

Rice traders are of the view that the ongoing Open Market Sale (OMS) of rice is containing its price -hike and benefiting the common people.

Some OMS dealers told this correspondent that if the OMS continues till the completion of 'Boro' the people of low-income group would be highly benefited.

Customers of OMS rice told this correspondent that though they were getting rice at a reasonable price and procedure to get it is killing their valuable time.

The price of vegetables were static while soybean oil registered a slight increase. Soybean price per litre has gone up by 10 taka.

Coarse rice like 'Lata' was selling between Tk 32 and Tk 33 per kg. Pari Tk 32 and Tk 33 per kg. Fine quality of Nazirshail rice was selling at Tk 39 to Tk 43, Minicate at Tk 38 to Tk 43 per kg. And a kg of 'Sarna' and Parija and BR-28 were selling for Tk 33 and Tk 37.

The price of coarse rice came down by Tk 80 to Tk 100 per maund and fine quality of rice also decreased by Tk 60 to Tk 70 per maund.

On the other hand local variety of lentils was selling at Tk 95 to Tk 98, while imported ones at Tk 85 per kg in the retail markets. Soybean oil was sold at Tk 110 to Tk 112 per kg which was Tk 106 in the previous week. The price of chicken was Tk 120 per kg as the supply is not enough against the demand. People have started buying chicken in large numbers after the bird flu scare disappeared.

Green Chilli was selling at Tk 25to Tk 30 per kg. Potato at Tk 13, cucumber at Tk 16to Tk 20, Korola at Tk 22 to Tk 24, Tomato at Tk 22 to Tk 24 and beans at Tk 22 to Tk 24 per kg. The price of different varieties of fishes still remain high as 'Ruhi' was selling at Tk 150 to Tk 180, Hilsah at Tk 280 to Tk 300 per kg. Prices of red meat like beef was at Tk 180, while muttion at Tk 240 to Tk 250.