Rice prices have surged sharply in Dinajpur, one of Bangladesh’s main grain hubs, despite the peak of the aus‑boro harvest season, as a combination of high paddy costs, fuel and electricity price hikes, and severe load-shedding disrupts production and supply, leaving consumers struggling.
In just one week, the price of a 50kg rice sack rose by Tk150–300. Miniket rice, previously sold at Tk3,100, now commands Tk3,300. Medium-grade Atash rice jumped from Tk2,700 to Tk2,850, while Untrish rice rose from Tk2,300 to Tk2,600. Sumon Shorna increased from Tk2,250 to Tk2,500 and Chinigura Aromatic Rice from Tk7,000 to Tk7,400.
Mill owners and traders attribute the price hikes to a monopolistic syndicate controlling procurement and poor management. With paddy now dominated by large hoarders and brokers, millers are forced to buy at inflated rates. Ashraf, a Bahadur Bazar rice trader, said rising costs at mill gates and transport charges are squeezing capital. Another trader, Firoz, added daily sales have fallen from 50 to just five sacks.
Nearly 2,000 rice mills in Dinajpur are operating below capacity due to load-shedding, halving daily production from 7–8,000 metric tonnes to 3–4,000 metric tonnes. Vice-president of the Bangladesh Auto, Major and Hasking Mill Owners Association Sahidur Rahman Patowary Mohon and president of the Dinajpur Rice Traders Owners Association Azgar Ali said electricity accounts for 15 per cent of an authorised mill’s operating costs. Load-shedding has pushed production costs up by 20 per cent, with sudden outages damaging machinery.
Consumers are expressing deep frustration. Monirul Islam said incomes have not risen while rice and essential goods prices continue to climb, threatening basic food security. Authorities warn that without curbing artificial hoarding and addressing energy shortages, rice markets could spiral further, leaving vulnerable populations at risk even during the peak harvest season.
