The New Nation - Internet Edition

Talha Bin Habib

The price of 'chinigura' (aromatic) rice has abruptly increased by Tk 20 and Tk 30 per kg in the retail markets yesterday.

One kg of 'chinigura' was sold between Tk 100 and Tk 110 yesterday, which was available at Tk 85 to Tk 90 a few weeks ago

Retailers in the city markets alleged that some unscrupulous wholesalers are responsible for its price hike.

They alleged that rice sellers at different wholesale markets might have stocked the rice for making windfall profit. As a result, the price of this particular variety of rice is soaring high every week.

'Chinigura' rice is one of the vital components for preparing delicious food such as 'biriani', 'pulao', 'firni' and 'kheer' that are usually served at different social functions.

But as the price has shown high many social programmes have been drastically reduced, said a chef of a city's community centre.

Customers at retail markets said they could not understand why the price of aromatic rice has increased abnormally as it is not consumed everyday like 'plain' rice.

They called upon the government to initiate measures for finding out the real cause of its price hike.

They also demanded of the government to take punitive action against those responsible for pushing up its price.

"There is no any justification for incredible increase of this variety when prices of other varieties of rice have increased marginally," said Abdul Malek, a first class government official at Karwan Bazar.

Retailers said they are bound to sell it at a high price as they have to purchase it at a high rate from the wholesalers.

A retailer at Kaptan Bazar said the price of 'chinigura' rice has increased cent percent within one year.

One kg of 'chinigura' is now being sold at Tk 100 and Tk 110 compared to Tk 55 and Tk 60 in the last year.

One packet of one kg aromatic rice of different companies was sold between Tk 125 and Tk 105 yesterday that was Tk 85 to Tk 105 a few weeks ago.

Rice sellers at Babu Bazar denied any stocking of this variety of rice. They said that ongoing rainfalls are hampering smooth rice production at mills in the northern region.

They further said problems at mills due to current rainfalls coupled with high transport fare resulted in the increase of this variety of rice.

They hoped that it price would come down soon.