Sugar price hiked afresh

Sugar turns a bit bitter as the government raised the price of the sweetener afresh, adding to consumers' woes for rising general inflation.

However, an official declaration said, palm-oil rate was lowered through Thursday's price adjustments with import costs.

Loose sugar price has been reset at Tk 90 maximum and branded packet sugar raised to Tk 95 a kg-a Tk 6.0 hike from their previous rates.

Maximum retail price or MRP of palm oil has been lowered to Tk 125 from Tk 133, according to a commerce ministry notification.

The prices have been adjusted as per proposals of the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) based on import costs, local production costs and other accounts.

"The new prices are going to be effective from October 7 (today)," says the ministry notification.

The government also reviewed soybean-oil prices few days back and set loose soybean-oil price at Tk 158 a litre--Tk 17 down--while brand soybean oil at Tk 178 a litre with a Tk 14 cut a litre.

Meanwhile, visiting several groceries and markets in Dhaka, the FE correspondent found soybean oil selling at its previous rate of Tk 185-192 a litre while loose soybean at Tk 168-170 a litre.

Loose sugar was already selling at Tk 92 to 95 and packet sugar at Tk 95-100 a kg in the groceries while super palm was retailing at maximum Tk 150 a litre.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com