RAJSHAHI, Jan 16: Low-earning people are struggling to afford increased prices of rice in the district.
Rice millers and traders are blaming each other for the soaring prices of rice.
During the last 10 days, at the wholesale level, the rice price has been hiked by Tk 300-500 per bag. On per kilogram (kg) basis, prices of Katari, Jheerashial, Najirshail and Minicat have been increased by Tk 6-19.
Traders and millers said, "Many middlemen traders have stocked paddy. We have to purchase paddy from them at higher prices."
That is why, the rice price has been raised by Tk 200-300 per bag, and later on this rice is selling at Tk 500 per bag in markets, they added.
Wholesalers said, millers are not increasing the rice price. Retailers said, all blames go for the wholesalers; if the millers raise the price by Taka one, wholesalers make it double.
A visit on Saturday to different markets found rising price trends of rice; the uptick of the rice price has been continuing for the last two weeks; per kg BRRI-28 variety was selling at Tk 65-68 against Tk 60-65 10 days back; Minicat was selling at Tk 78-80 against previous Tk 68-75; Najirshail was selling at Tk 80-86 against Tk 70-80 and Shawrna Guti was selling at Tk 60-65 against Tk 50-55.
A customer at Laxmipur Bazar in the city Rafiqul Islam said, "We are fixed income earners. We live on daily works. Neither the government nor traders can understand our suffering. Because of the price hike, I am purchasing short quantity of rice."
Another Ahmed said, "As we don't have land we have to purchase rice for the whole year. We thought of price fall of rice during the new government regime, but the price is now increasing."
A rice trader at Sahebbazar in the city Nazrul Islam said, "We have no hand in raising the price. Because we purchase at the wholesale rate and sell at very little profit. Millers can tell better about it."
According to mills sources, at present per bag BRRI-28 rice is selling at Tk 3,250-3,350 at the mill level, coarse rice bag at Tk 2,750-2,800, and Jheerashail at Tk 3,500.
These rice varieties are selling at higher price of Tk 200-300 at the warehouse and wholesale level.
Proprietor Hafizul Islam of Amena Store in Horgram area in the city said, "We have to count extra cost for purchasing rice from warehouses. In the last 10 days, per bag rice price was raised by Tk 300-500."
Kamal Autorice Mill's Proprietor Kamal Hossain said, "Now seasonal traders have stocked paddy. Without extra prices they are not giving paddy. So, we have to purchase at higher prices."
President of Rajshahi Rice Mills Owner Association Rafiqul Islam said, "We are blamed for increase of rice prices. But we have to count extra costs for buying paddy. At the mill level, the price has been hiked. Along with farmers, seasonal traders are stoking paddy. It has impact on markets."
Ibrahim Hossain, deputy director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection-Rajshahi, said, "Our campaign is going on in keeping the rice price in control. Rice traders are warned, and the traders are fined who are not responding."
