The New Nation - Internet Edition

A.T.M. Nurun Nabi

The price of rice has been increased at Paksey railway town in Ishurdi upazila under Pabna district despite arrival of winter rice in the market. On Tuesday, rice was selling for taka 27 to 34 per kilogram subject to the quality thereof to the anxiety of the poor people who find it too difficulties to afford increased expenditure. At the same time, coarse flour was selling at taka 22, raised by taka two per kilo.

The edible oil (soybean) sells at taka, marking augmented tendency, salt sells for taka 14 to 18 and sugar at taka 56 per kilo. "In the past, we experienced that the price of sugar was rolled down to the previous level even though it was amplified rapidly without any genuine reason. But this time, it seems that sugar will not go back to the level of taka 28 to 30 per kilo," said on condition of anon-ymity a resident of South Goran, Dhaka.

Similar position is with onion, now selling for taka 46 to 48, both in Dhaka and Paksey. It happens when the nation does not know onion's total production, its annual consumption and the quantity of import from abroad, added he.

Vegetables' market is also climbing upwards against any logic. Potato is now selling for taka 30 to 32, brinjal for taka 16, an increase of taka 10 in two weeks, and that of cauliflower has been augmented by taka six over taka 10. The price of some other vegetables is: Cabbage taka 10, green chilli taka 12, bitter gourd taka 14, tomato taka 20 and spinach (Palong shak) taka 12 only.

"I do not agree with the theory that the government will do everything and we shall sit idle. If trading does not follow ethics and morality, it is really hard to control market price. However, we are ready to help the government provided it wants; otherwise the consumers will have to bear excess expenditure, meaning decrease of real income," said a retired college professor.

The fish market at Paksey shows no change. River shad (Hilsha) was selling at taka 250 per kilogram on Monday, carp at taka 160, ruhit for taka 160 to 180, small species of fish for taka 200, bata, lowla and banspata at taka 100 each, scorpion for taka 300 only. Paksey was once fish breeding area when the river Padma had rapid current. The days are past whatsoever is the reason and is unlikely to return.