Rice prices have suddenly started rising in Dhaka’s wholesale markets. Coarse rice is unchanged, but fine and medium varieties have gone up by Tk 50 to Tk 100 per 50 kg sack. Warehouse traders say higher costs at the mills and higher transport fares are behind the rise. Some wholesalers, however, say prices were already raised once when transport fares went up, so a fresh increase is not justified.
Md Mosharraf Hossain, a seller at Laksam Traders, a wholesaler in Karwan Bazar, said on Friday that prices had been raised at the mill gate, so traders had to buy at higher rates. Asked why, he said costs had risen at the mill gate, along with transport costs. “We have to buy at higher prices than before, so we have to sell at higher prices too,” he said.
Wholesalers said a 50 kg sack of miniket that sold for Tk 3,400 to Tk 3,600 two days ago now sells for Tk 3,500 to Tk 3,700. A 50 kg sack of medium BRRI-28 rice has risen the same way, to Tk 2,400 to Tk 2,500, from Tk 2,300 to Tk 2,400 last Tuesday. Coarse rice prices remain unchanged.
The wholesale rise has not yet reached retail, and most shops are still selling at the old prices. Md Masud Rana, a seller at Gazi Store in Malibagh market, said miniket still sells at Tk 80 a kg and medium BRRI-28 at Tk 65. He said it takes some time for a wholesale rise to reach retail.
Meanwhile, the supply of winter vegetables is growing in the kitchen markets, and prices are falling. Many vegetables have become cheaper. Consumers say that although prices have eased somewhat, they are still high, and most vegetables remain hard to afford for low-income and working people. They hope prices will fall further in the winter season, and traders expect the same.
A check of vegetable markets found that, at retail, flat beans have fallen to Tk 60 to Tk 80 a kg. Round aubergines have come down to Tk 80 to Tk 90. Bitter gourd is Tk 10 cheaper at Tk 70 a kg. Cauliflower and cabbage are Tk 10 cheaper a piece, selling for Tk 40 in many shops. Sponge gourd, ridge gourd, taro, taro stolons, yardlong beans and radish have each fallen by Tk 10 a kg. Tomatoes are still expensive, at around Tk 120 a kg. Carrots cost Tk 140 a kg, cucumbers Tk 60 to Tk 80 depending on the variety, and green papaya is unchanged at Tk 30.
Onion prices have eased slightly over the week. Local onions, large and small, sell for Tk 45 to Tk 50 a kg. Ginger, garlic and potato prices are largely unchanged. All kinds of fish are still selling at the same high prices. Beef, mutton, chicken and egg prices have barely moved. Broiler chicken costs Tk 190 a kg, and a dozen brown farm eggs sell for Tk 130 to Tk 140, though neighbourhood shops still charge Tk 50 for four.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report