Crisis of transports and the hike in their fare have hit the prices of rice and atta across the country in recent days, officials said.
The causes of the surge in the prices of the essentials were unearthed in an investigation report of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) which was recently submitted to the ministry of commerce (MoC), they said.
The TCB recently made the report on the prices of the two principal food items at the request of the MoC, sources concerned said.
"It is observed that prices of rice and atta have increased recently due to crisis of transports and an increase in their fare," said a statement signed by TCB Chairman Brigadier General Sarwar Jahan Talukdar.
The price of wheat has surged owing to transport and supply shortage of the item in the mills and also for the rise in the demand of atta during winter season, it mentioned.
"The prices of the staple food items would decrease, if the transport system can be kept normal and supply of wheat may be increased," the statement added.
The blockades called by the 18-party alliance hit the rice and atta prices as transportation remained suspended across the country during these political programmes, sources said.
They said it was completely impossible to carry any rice from southern or northern areas of country as transports stayed off the roads over the last couple of weeks, especially in December last.
The sources said consumers of essential food items were facing difficulties during the recent days due to the price hike. For this the MoC asked the TCB to make an inquiry into the issue.
According to a TCB update, rice price of various varieties increased by Tk 2 to Tk 4 per kg on January 09 last.
Paijam/Lata (normal and standard) were sold at Tk 38-40 and Tk 40-42 per kg while Minicate/Najirshail (normal and standard) at Tk 38-42 and Tk 46-54 per kg respectively last week.
However the current prices of Paijam/Lata (normal and standard) are Tk 39-40 and Tk 42-44 per kg and Minicate/Najirshail (normal and standard) Tk 40-46 and Tk 47-56 per kg respectively, according to the TCB price chart at different kitchen markets in the city.
The retail prices of one kg of coarse rice (Swarna) and Irri were Tk 34 and Tk 36 respectively in city markets. The prices were Tk 33 and Tk 35 per kg respectively last week, the TCB data showed.
Prices of atta increased in the last week, the TCB sources said.
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