Prices of Chicken-Vegetables decreased, Rice increased

After the fall of the government, the prices of several daily products including vegetables and chicken have decreased. Due to the continued market supervision of students, the prices of various products in the capital including Chattogram, Barishal, and Rajshahi have decreased by Tk 10 to Tk 20 per kg. However, the rice and pulses market is volatile despite adequate supply. The price of rice is increasing silently in the wholesale and retail markets of the country including Dhaka. The retail price of all types of rice per sack (50 kg) is increasing by Tk 150 to 200 and Tk 3 to 5 per kg.

Traders say that if a supply system like supply control at the mill and wholesale level is monitored, the price of goods can come down.

On Friday (August 16), various markets of the capital were visited. Due to the normal supply system, the prices of chicken, eggs, fish, and vegetables have come down a lot, but all types of rice are being sold at high prices. Some of the concerned people say that this condition of the rice market is due to the manipulation of the mill owners.

A visit to Karwan Bazar, Rampura, Badda, and Joarsahara Bazar in the capital showed that small rice (miniket) is being sold at Tk 72 to 80 per kg. Bri-28 and Payzam rice are selling at Tk 58 to Tk 62 per kg and Nazirshail rice at Tk 75 to Tk 85 per kg.

The government institution Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) market price data has also observed the issue of selling rice at high prices.

According to TCB's market price report yesterday, thin rice is being sold at Tk 60 to 80 per standard, which was 60 to 78 taka last week.

Paijam rice is being sold at Tk 55 to 60 per kg, which was Tk 54 to Tk 58 last week. Altab Hossain working in a private company. He was buying rice from a shop in Rampura Bazar yesterday. He said that in the middle of July, he bought Miniket rice from the same shop at the price of Tk 74 per kg. Yesterday, he had to pay Tk 78 per kg for the same rice.

Badda Bazar grocer Hanif said, 'Due to the violence and curfew centered around the students' movement last month, the price of rice increased due to disruption in the supply of products in different parts of the country. Rice is still being sold at that increased price. He also said that there is no sign of the rice market decreasing for now.

Abdul Mannan, Rice Agency owner of Karwan Bazar said, 'The price of rice is still at the same level as it was in July. At present, the price of rice has not decreased.'

Nazim Uddin, general secretary of the Babubazar Wholesale Rice Traders Association of the capital, said that there is no shortage of rice in the market. Millers have increased the price of rice due to the increase in the price of paddy. Due to this prices have increased in wholesale and retail markets.

Meanwhile, the price of green chilies has increased in the market. Customers are buying raw chilies at a higher price of Tk 40-60 per kg during the week. However, the prices of some types of vegetables, fish, broiler and golden chickens, and farm chicken eggs have decreased slightly.

This information about the price of goods was known by visiting the Sheorapara, Mohammadpur Krishi Market, and Town Hall Market of the capital yesterday and talking to the sellers.