Sukanta Halder

Government's import plan causes immediate drop in wholesale onion prices

As prices soar, poor and middle-class struggle with rising cost of living

Bangladesh's rice imports surged to a seven-year high in the last fiscal year (FY25) of 2024-25, driven by a shortfall in domestic production, according to official data.

Bangladesh’s food grain stock has reached an all-time high of 21.54 lakh tonnes, as strong Boro procurement and lower distribution in July helped shore up reserves.

The interim government of Bangladesh recently introduced updated rules for the evaluation and registration of hybrid rice, aiming to encourage the cultivation of more varieties, strengthen agricultural innovation, and ensure food security.

Bangladesh can boost crop yields by at least 25 percent through the adoption of modern technology in a cultivation method known as “precision agriculture”, according to a Dutch environmental and soil scientist.

Potato exports climbed to a three-year high in the recently concluded fiscal year (FY) 2024-25, as traders took advantage of a slump in domestic prices to increase shipments abroad.

The government yesterday decided to import 4 lakh tonnes of rice in its efforts to curb the spike in prices of the staple and build adequate stocks in advance so that it can intervene in the market in case of volatility originating from crop losses due to natural disasters like floods in the coming months.

Prices of potatoes have begun to rise after months, adding slight pressure on consumers struggling with high inflation but also bringing relief to farmers reeling from losses.

The dominance of middlemen, a lack of information, extortion, and unpredictable transportation costs have a significant impact, resulting in the high retail prices of vegetables, according to a recent Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) report.

Insurance claim settlements in the country took a nosedive in the first quarter of 2025, exposing the fragile state of insurers marred by cash shortages, irregularities and corruption.

Non-stop rainfall since Tuesday has left large swathes of farmland under water, causing concern among vegetable growers across the country.

Deposit and investment growth in the country’s Islamic banks fell to a four-year low in the first quarter of 2025, apparently driven by rising public concerns over the financial stability and governance practices of the commercial lenders.

Rice prices have increased by Tk 3 to Tk 5 per kilogramme across all categories over the past month, despite the recent Boro harvest and continuing imports of the staple grain.

Bangladesh is already facing the brunt of climate change in its major rice-growing regions, according to Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Director General Mohammad Khalequzzaman, as the institute has identified several climate-induced stresses that threaten production and eventually cause food security concerns.

The Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (Idra) has finalised a draft of the Insurance Resolution Ordinance 2025, which would grant the regulator sweeping powers to declare financially troubled insurers bankrupt.

The proposed budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 has drawn criticism from the government-appointed Labour Reform Commission, which had earlier called for formal recognition of workers and stronger financial and legal safeguards.

Poor preservation, unfair pricing and failure to meet global standards cripple rawhide trade

Bangladesh’s food processing sector, which was worth $8 billion last year, is growing at an average rate of 8 percent a year, according to a report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Mango prices are rising following a recent slump that had resulted in losses for many traders.