CHATTOGRAM, Sept 3 (BSS): After three months of price volatility, rice prices in major wholesale markets in Chattogram have started declining by Taka 5-Taka 8 per kilogram.
During a visit to prime wholesale markets in the port city including Ckatai Chapatti, Khatunganj and Pahartali, it was found that prices of both coarse and fine varieties of rice have dropped by Taka 5 to Taka 8 per kg, thanks to government's time-befitting measures including massive import from Myanmar, Pakistan and Vietnam and also from India, continuing OMS by TCB and partly dismantling the unscrupulous syndicate of rice hoarders and millers.
Traders report that the recent approval of rice imports from India through land ports has caused an oversupply in the market, leading to a decrease in prices. Prices for four types of rice have dropped by Tk 5 to Tk 8 per kg.
According to official sources, rice stock has reached approximately 19.81 lakh tonnes in first quarter of August, which is surpassing the earlier records. However, total stock of food grains is registered around 21.54 lakh tonnes more than adequate for buffer
stock.
Market sources said Amon crop damage, unusual hoarding, sluggish import and flood related supply chain disruption led to a significant rise in prices of the staple grain in early 2025 that continued up to July last.
Traders expect rice prices to remain stable due to the market's recent stability. Although prices had been increasing since mid-June, there was rampant price spiral in the Chattogram wholesale market by the end of July.
During the recent period, rice prices fluctuated, with some varieties increasing by Tk 2 to 8 per kg before dropping by Tk 5 to Tk 8 per kg. Currently, Jirashail is being sold at Tk 71 per kg, Guti Swarna at Tk 54 per kg, and Katari Atap at Tk 77 per kg in the wholesale market. Betti Atap has decreased to Tk 52 per kg registering, a drop of Tk 4 per kg. Nazirshail Miniket is selling at Tk 57 per kg, Mota (Coarse) boiled rice at Tk 49 per kg, and Nurjahan Swarna at Tk 56 per kg at the wholesale level.
SM Nizam Uddin, former general secretary of Pahartali Banik Samiti, indirectly blamed North Bengal based millers for manipulating rice prices.
However, prices have started to fall following a rise in supply in both wholesale and retail markets. Resuming rice import from India from mid-August, which had stopped in mid-April, has contributed largely in having a positive impact in the rice price.
