Corporate houses are buying bulk of the produced rice from various sources. They are releasing that rice in the market if they want; If not, it is stockpiling. Due to this, artificial crisis is created in the market. Those concerned complained that the rice market in Chittagong is gradually becoming unstable.

Meanwhile, from April 14, the new policy for the proper management of rice supplied at the wholesale and retail level is going to be effective. According to the circular of the Ministry of Food, from that day every rice mill owner has to put ‘rice variety, manufacturer (name of mill) weight, price of rice at the mill gate, production date and address’ on the bag in the form of ‘printed’ on the bag. The same guidelines should be followed by all the corporates who market rice. Due to this circular, rice traders are suffering from unknown fear. Chittagong rice traders and traders have given this information.

An information meeting was held with rice mill owners on the proper management of rice supplied at wholesale and retail level and production and supply price from rice mills (automatic and husking) in the conference room of Chittagong District Commissioner on Tuesday. In that meeting, the rice traders presented the information to the Additional Deputy Commissioner about the unusual stock of rice in the corporate houses and the creation of artificial crisis. District Food Controller Sumaiya Nazneen along with senior officials of the Food Department were present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, in Chittagong, the price of rice per bag has increased from Tk 150 to Tk 200 in the last few days. A kg of coarse rice in the market has increased by Tk 2 to Tk 52 in the last one week. And narrow rice is being sold at 70 to 73 taka increased by three taka. However, the price of this type of rice has been seen to be higher after visiting the market.

According to sources, coarse rice (Swarna) which was 51-52 Tk a kg 15 days ago is now Tk 53-54. Medium quality rice (pajam and BR-28) has increased from Tk 56-57 to Tk 58-60 per kg. In a few days, the price of medium quality rice has increased the most in the market. The price of medium quality rice has increased by Tk 2 to Tk 4 per kg. And the price of narrow rice like Miniket and Nazirshail increased from Tk 64-76 to Tk 66-80 per kg. There are different types of Nazirshail rice in the market. However, they are being sold at higher prices depending on the quality.

The leaders of Chaktai-Khatunganj rice traders and rice mill owner association said that there is no big rice mill in Chittagong. Most of what is here are small vehicles. These rice mills do not have the ability to influence the market by storing rice. Now the rice market is controlled by big corporate houses. They are buying large quantities of rice from rice millers or millers. Then marketing it with their own brand packaging. Besides, these rice are selling at extra price in the market. A corporate house is buying all the rice from a hundred or more rice mills together. As four or five corporate houses of the country buy rice alone from the majority of rice mills, the small businessmen are in trouble. They cannot survive with the corporate houses. Because of this, there is an opportunity to create an artificial crisis of rice. Corporate organizations are using that opportunity.

According to the guidance of the Ministry of Food, recently during the inspection of some rice producing districts, it has been confirmed that rice produced from the same variety of rice is being sold in the market under different names and prices. Millers, wholesalers and retailers are blaming each other when rice prices rise unreasonably. Consumers are suffering financially. To overcome this situation, to keep the market price of rice at a tolerable and reasonable level, it is ensured that rice is marketed in the name of paddy and instructions have been issued to facilitate monitoring.

Chittagong District Assistant Food Controller (Additional Duty) Fakhrul Alam told Jugantar that the new policy will be effective in the proper management of rice supplied at wholesale and retail level from April 14. All types of rice traders must conduct their business according to the policy. They (rice traders, millers) have already been informed about the matter by holding a meeting.