Rice prices up by TK300 per sack in Ctg, traders blame floods  

The rice market in Chittagong has been unstable for an extended period, with prices rising significantly in the past three weeks. The cost of rice has increased from Tk200 to Tk300 per sack (50kg), leading to retail price hikes of Tk2 to Tk7 per kg.

Rice mill owners and traders said this price surge mainly to recent floods, which have disrupted supply. About 80% of Chittagong's rice demand is met by external sources, and the floods in southeastern Bangladesh have severely limited availability.

In several markets of Chittagong city, it has been found that all types of rice have seen price increases. Currently, Miniket rice sells for Tk65 to 70, Jirashail for Tk67 to 69, and Paijam for Tk58 to 60, each rising by Tk4 to 5. Meanwhile, beef prices range from Tk500 to 520 per kg.

Before the floods, a 50-kg sack of coarse boiled rice was priced at Tk2,000. It has since risen to Tk2,400. Similarly, Nurjahan Swarna, previously sold for Tk2,500, is now priced at Tk2,800, and Jirashail has increased from Tk3,250 to Tk3,450.

Farid Uddin Ahmed, president of the Chittagong Rice Mill Owners' Association, said that most rice in Chattogram comes from regions like Dinajpur, Noakhali, Feni, and Bogra, where supplies are now limited. Many mills in Chittagong are closed, with only 20-25% operating intermittently. Farmers are withholding paddy from the market in hopes of higher prices.

Abdullah Al Noman, owner of Jiban Grocery in Kazi Deuri market, noted that rising wholesale prices are directly affecting retail prices. He mentioned that he recently paid Tk2,200 per bag, up from Tk2,000.

However, Sheikh Salim, owner of RM Enterprises in Chaktai, stated that the rice market remains unregulated, with prices influenced by costs from suppliers in Dinajpur, Kushtia, Naogaon, and Ashuganj. He emphasised that he earns only Tk10-20 per bag. 

Faiz Ullah, deputy director of Consumer Rights Protection Directorate, Chittagong, said, "Any action regarding price increase or decrease will be taken from the centre. We are monitoring, in that case the vendors have also shown us the purchase receipt." 

Regarding the increase in the price of rice, Faiz Ullah said, "The price has increased slightly due to the flood situation. But per kg did not increase. Since rice is not produced in Chittagong, it is brought directly from North Bengal, so the transport system is also partly responsible for the increase in prices."