United News of Bangladesh

Government official and traders have expressed mixed reactions over the price hikes of rice in Khulna as both sides provide contradictory information. However, low-income people are bearing the brunt of price hike as they struggle to meet their basic needs. Despite bumper yields in the last Boro season and imports from outside the country, rice prices in Khulna have spiraled out of control, leaving consumers worried. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, Khulna produced 300,000 metric tonnes of Boro paddy this year, marking a bumper production. The food department has also been selling rice under the Open Market Sale (OMS) programme five days a week across Khulna city’s 31 wards, two municipalities and nine upazilas. Each ward receives one metric tonne of rice daily which will continue until new harvests arrive. It is learned that the government warehouses in the district hold 84,000 metric tonnes of rice. Imports are also ongoing whereas 50,000 metric tonnes of rice were unloaded from Pakistan in July at Chittagong Port while the country received 12,000 metric tonnes from India through Benapole and Bhomra land ports between June and August. Rice market remains volatile  despite large-scale imports from India The government even reduced import duty from 25% to 15% to stabilize the local market. Despite huge stock, consumers are facing abnormal prices, with rice selling between Tk 53 and Tk 80 per kg, hitting daily life. Md Zakir Hossain, assistant food controller of Khulna district, said coarse rice is selling at Tk 53–55, medium at Tk 57–61, Atap at Tk 48–50 and fine rice at Tk 73–74 per kg. He, however, claimed the rice market is falling as rice is being sold through the OMS. There have been allegations that traders provide wrong information to journalists when they visit the market, finding a disparity between the government data and traders. The owners of Annpunyo Traders and Halim Bhandar in Boro Bazar of Khulna city told this reporter during a visit to the market, that coarse rice is selling for Tk 47–50, imported varieties for Tk 50–56, Atap for Tk 42–45, fine rice for Tk 50–54, and local premium rice for Tk 54–58 per kg. Some traders reported Paijam rice being sold as high as Tk 80 per kg. Small traders and consumers blame corporate houses and large auto rice mill owners for stockpiling paddy after the harvest to manipulate supply and raise prices. Government aims to stabilize rice market, ensure trader support: Commerce Adviser “Farmers sell their crops immediately after harvest but corporate groups hoard paddy and later release rice at higher prices, hurting both consumers and small traders,” said Mojaher Ali, a farmer from Kharnia village in Dumuria.

Despite a steady inflow of rice from India, local market prices in Bangladesh have remained persistently high, causing concerns among middle-to-low income consumers, particularly in Khulna. Over the past four months, from 13 November 2024 to 13 March 2025, approximately 1.43 lakh metric tonnes of rice have been imported through the Bhomra land port in Satkhira under the 2024-25 fiscal year, Food Ministry officials here said. Illegal brick kilns in Khulna: A silent peril to environment and public health But the expected fall in market prices has not been seen, leaving consumers increasingly frustrated. In an attempt to stabilise the market, the Food Ministry approved 90 importers to bring in duty-free rice under a special quota from India, according to the officials. Despite these measures, there has been no tangible impact on local prices. According to officials at Bhomra land port, the government has taken various initiatives, including international open tenders, to regulate prices and bolster food security. Under Package 5 of the open tender for the 2024-25 fiscal year, the government approved the procurement of 50,000 metric tonnes of non-Basmati boiled rice at Tk 55.06 per kg, amounting to a total cost of Tk 275.30 crore, the officials mentioned. The rice, imported from India’s Marsos Bagdia Brothers Pvt. Ltd., was purchased at $458.84 per tonne. Despite these large-scale imports, the prices in the local market have remained unstable, raising concerns over potential market manipulation. Surge in substandard products in Bangladesh exposes gaps in govt oversight Unrelenting Price Surge With the onset of Ramadan, rice prices have surged further, rising by Tk 4-5 per kg in the local markets. This increase has placed an additional burden on low-income families, for whom rice is a staple dietary component. Consumers have voiced their dissatisfaction, pointing out that repeated government interventions have failed to curb price hikes. Daily wage earners and low-income households are struggling to afford rice, even though other essentials like vegetables remain within reach. Anwar Hossain, a rice trader at Sultanpur Boro Bazar, observed that prices had increased across all varieties. “The price of 28-category rice, which was Tk 65 per kg before Ramadan, has now risen to Tk 70. Similarly, miniket rice has gone up from Tk 72 to Tk 76 per kg, while coarse rice, previously Tk 52 per kg, is now Tk 56. Even Basmati rice has increased from Tk 84 to Tk 88 per kg,” he said. Imported Indian rice is available at Tk 58 per kg, yet it has failed to attract strong consumer demand. “Despite continuous imports, market prices remain unaffected, and there is little hope of a reduction during Ramadan. But prices might drop once fresh rice supplies enter the market,” Anwar added. 14 Top Rice Varieties in Bangladesh Bhomra Port’s Role in Rice Imports Bhomra land port has played a significant role in Bangladesh’s import-export trade due to its strategic proximity to Kolkata, which reduces transportation time and costs. Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Commissioner of Customs at Bhomra, said that the port’s well-connected transportation network enables swift distribution of imported goods across the country. Md Ruhul Amin, Deputy Director (Traffic) of Bhomra Land Port, emphasised the efficiency of the port’s operations, stating that customs officials ensure quick clearance of rice-laden trucks to facilitate a smooth supply chain. Sundarbans at stake as erosion shrinks forest land Will Prices Drop? Despite the government’s persistent efforts to control the market, rice prices remain high, adding to the hardships of ordinary citizens, the officials said. While policymakers continue to explore solutions, consumers remain sceptical, awaiting a potential decline in prices as new rice stocks enter the market.