Rice prices have climbed up once again this month, placing an extra burden on low-income and marginal families in Bangladesh, despite having a good Boro harvest and rice imports.
Data from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) shows that coarse rice is currently selling at Tk 55 per kilogram, up from Tk 50 just a month ago. Medium-quality rice is trading between Tk 60 and Tk 65, while fine rice prices range from Tk 75 to Tk 85 per kilogram.
Prices have been on a steady upward trend since early 2020, when coarse rice sold for only Tk 30–35 per kilogram. Despite several price-control measures announced by the Awami League government ahead of the July mass upsurge, the efforts have yielded little success so far.
Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumdar on Sunday announced that the government would launch the Open Market Sale (OMS) and food-friendly programs next month, following the completion of the national procurement of paddy and rice. Speaking at a meeting at the Circuit House in Jashore, he expressed hope that prices would come down once these programmes begin.
He further claimed that syndicate-based illegal price manipulation in Naogaon and Kushtia had been stopped to help stabilise the market.
Around 5.3 million families are expected to benefit from the OMS and food-friendly initiatives, Majumdar added, expressing optimism about positive outcomes in the coming weeks.