MAGURA, Jan 20: Prices of rice have increased in Magura. It is causing sufferings to the people of low income group. In this situation they are demanding open market sale (OMS) of rice.
Consumer sources informed prices of rice were within the reach of common people before election. Rice price started to swell just after the parliament election. Syndicate by millers and rice wholesalers and weakness of monitoring authority are the main reason behind the price hike.
During a visit to Puratan Bazaar of Magura town Minikate rice was seen to be sold at Tk 55 per kg as against Tk 50 three weeks back while medium quality rice at Tk 46 per kg against Tk 40 and coarse rice at Tk 38 per kg as against Tk 32.
When contacted NGO worker Shariful Islam of Vina area of Magura town said, price of medium paddy has stood at 700 per mound as against Tk 650 before election. Medium quality rice is now being sold in the retail market at Tk 1,800 per mound as against Tk 1,600 before election. That is, paddy price has jumped by Tk 50 per maund while rice price Tk 200 per maund.
Mukter Hossen, a construction labourer of village Nanduali under Magura Sadar upazila said, every day 4 to 5 kgs rice is required for my family. Due to price hike of rice I am counting more Tk 20 to 25 per day. In this situation we can get relief if rice is sold under OMS.
Balai Chandra Kuri, an OMS dealer of Puratan Bazaar area in Magura town said, for a week low income people are coming to us for OMS rice. But now we sell only flour under OMS, not rice.
When contacted Bulu Mian, a rice retailer of police line area in Magura said, now we are purchasing rice from millers paying Tk 4 to 5 per more per kg compared to that before election. Consequently we are being compelled to sell rice at hiked price.
Saroar Hossen, president of Magura District Rice Mill Owners Association denied the allegation of syndicate formation. He said, price of rice has increased in the local market with rise in paddy price. He added, the rise is Tk 1 to 2 per kg only, but not Tk 5 to 6 per kg.
Executive Director Shafiqur Rahman of Palli Prokriti (an environment and agriculture based NGO ) said, now Magura is a surplus paddy producing district. Moreover in the last Aman season a plenteous production of Aman paddy has been achieved in the district. So there is no reason behind such price hike in rice.
Actually due to monitoring weakness by government authority rice price is increasing in the market. Rice market was under control before election as there was proper monitoring then. But rice price is increasing after election for want of proper monitoring.
When contacted, Magura District Marketing Officer Jakir Hossen said, rice market is still under our control. We are conducting monitoring strongly. So there is no scope to hike price by forming syndicate.
Magura District Food Controller Rezaul Islam said, now rice price is within the reach of common people. However, if we get instruction to start OMS of rice we are ready to do so as we have adequate stock of rice in our godown.
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