Rice prices have risen sharply in Naogaon, one of Bangladesh’s largest rice-producing districts, with the price of aromatic atop rice jumping by as much as Tk80 per kg within a month, triggering concern among consumers and traders.
The price hike has also spread to Katari and other fine rice varieties. Consumers and retailers blame alleged stockpiling by large millers and corporate firms, while mill owners say higher paddy prices and government-approved exports are driving the increase. Although authorities say market monitoring is continuing, traders say little action is visible on the ground.
A visit to Naogaon’s municipal retail rice market found that prices of all fine rice varieties have increased by Tk3-Tk4 per kg over the past three weeks. Katari rice, which accounts for around 80 per cent of sales in the market, has risen by Tk4 per kg, with rice previously selling at Tk76 now priced at Tk80. Swarna-5 rice has increased by Tk2 to Tk51 per kg, while BR-28 has risen from Tk58 to Tk60.
The steepest increase has been recorded in aromatic atop rice. Selling at around Tk120 per kg a month ago, it is now priced at Tk200 per kg after a series of daily increases.
Consumers said the surge had made rice increasingly unaffordable. Ismail Hossain said he had gone to buy 13kg of aromatic atop rice for a village wedding but discovered the price had risen by Tk70-Tk80 per kg, leaving him struggling to meet the cost.
Another buyer, Abdur Rahim, said rising prices were making it difficult for low-income families to afford their staple food.
Rahmat Ali, a retailer with four decades of experience in the rice trade, said he had never witnessed such a sharp increase, particularly in aromatic rice, and questioned whether there was any reasonable justification for the rise.
Another trader, Anwar, alleged that several large millers and corporate firms had stockpiled rice at the start of the season and were now influencing market prices.
Sheikh Farid Uddin, owner of Fariha and Sheikh Rice Mill, said the rice trade was gradually coming under the control of corporate companies, making it increasingly difficult for small and medium-sized millers to compete. He called for strict action against illegal stockpiling and excessive profiteering.
Toufiqul Islam, owner of Mofik Uddin Automatic Rice Mill, attributed the sharp rise in aromatic rice prices to government approval for exports over recent months. He said large-scale exports had reduced domestic supplies, prompting consumers to switch to Katari and other fine rice varieties, pushing up their prices as well.
Farhad Hossain Chakdar, general secretary of the Naogaon Rice Mill Owners’ Group, said Chinigura was a specialised aromatic rice produced in limited quantities despite strong demand. While higher paddy prices had increased production costs, he said the recent pace of price increases did not appear to reflect normal market conditions and should be investigated. He said Katari paddy was currently selling for Tk1,800 per maund, while aromatic paddy cost around Tk3,700 per maund.
Naogaon District Food Controller Farhad Khandakar said exports had contributed to the price rise. He said the district has around 450 automatic and husking rice mills and that food department officials were regularly inspecting mills and searching for illegal stockpiles.
