A customer purchasing rice at a grocery store in Rangpur city. The present uptrend in the prices of the staple has come as a big concern for the common consumers- FE Photo RANGPUR, Dec 26: Rice prices have become prohibitive in Rangpur region, intensifying sufferings of the people belonging to the middle and lower-income groups.
Prices of all varieties of rice have marked a sharp rise in the local markets, battering the commoners already grappling with the expensive living cost.
Despite a bulk production of rice in the region in the current season, prices of the staple have risen exorbitantly making the consumers disappointed.
According to market sources, prices of the coarse varieties of rice have gone beyond Tk60 per kg in the region known as 'granary'.
Prices of rice have increased by Tk200 to Tk 500 per sack (50 kg) depending on quality and types. In the retail market, rice price has increased by Tk4 to Tk7 per kg.
It is learnt, as common people in the region are surviving against all odds including unrelenting price spiral of almost all the essential commodities, the price hike of rice has further intensified their sufferings.
Sources alleged that rice prices are taking the uptrend due to market manipulation by a syndicate of traders.
Out of a profit making motif, a section of unscrupulous traders are creating artificial crisis of rice in the market, allowing its prices to go up.
However, the wholesalers and mill owners have attributed the situation to scanty supply of rice against the huge demand.
While visiting some rice markets in the district, this FE correspondent found that Jirashail variety of fine rice was being sold at Tk3,400 to Tk3,500 per sack (50 kg) against the previous price of Tk3,000 to Tk 3,100 one week before.
Coarse varieties of rice are being sold at Tk3,000 per sack (50 kg) against the previous price of Tk2,500 per sack a week ago.
BR-28 is being sold at Tk3,200 per sack (50 kg) while it was available at Tk2,800 a week ago.
Expressing disappointment, Mostafa, a rickshaw-puller of Guptapara area in Rangpur city who came to the market to purchase rice, told The Financial Express, it has become so difficult for him to maintain his family of six members with his paltry income owing to exorbitant price of rice. He said that most of the poor people of the region are under pressure as the rice market is unstable.
Hasan Ali, a day labourer, said, "Rice price has increased abnormally, but our income has not increased. Price of a kg of coarse rice has risen to Tk60. It has become so tough for the low-income people like us to survive."
Retail traders alleged that prices of rice have gone up due to arbitrary price fixing by a section of big rice mill owners and hoarders.
At the same time, they blamed the government's regulatory body for their negligence.
Ankon Kumar, a rice shopkeeper at Rangpur City Bazar, told The Financial Express, "As we are compelled to buy rice at whatever price it sells, we have to sell it at an exorbitant price."
A number of retailers at City Bazar alleged that despite ample supply of rice in the local markets, some big mill owners have deliberately increased prices of the essential food item to make windfall profits.
In the present situation, common people have laid emphasis on regular market monitoring by the authorities concerned to prevent price hike of rice as well as other essential commodities.
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