Rice prices fall in Barisal, northern districts
Mobile court in Barisal from today
Truckloads of rice entering the country through Bhomra landport in Satkhira yesterday.Photo: Focus Bangla
Rice prices have fallen in wholesale markets in Barisal and Dinajpur following monitoring by joint forces and its import. Traders and rice mill owners said the prices may fall further. But the trend in the wholesale market that began on Sunday is yet to be reflected in retail markets, our Barisal correspondent reports. The district administration at a meeting with wholesalers yesterday cautioned against hoarding of rice, saying any such attempt by traders to manipulate prices would be punished. The meeting, also attended by joint forces and elite of the city, decided to start anti-hoarding drives and round the clock monitoring. The meeting decided that mobile courts will start operation in Barisal district from today to monitor the market, meeting sources said. At the meeting, wholesalers said the stock limit at their godowns should be specified so that none is harassed. The meeting questioned the role of Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB), saying it did not properly monitor the prices and maintain liaison with the administration in this regard. With deputy commissioner Manjure Elahi in the chair, the meeting was attended by, among others, Khorseduzzaman Murad and Faruk Ahmed of Barisal rice wholesalers' association, district food controller A N M Safiul, CAB official K M Nurunnabi Tuhin, Maj. Shafiqul Islam from joint forces, Flight Lieutenant Anisuzzaman of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), assistant commissioner of Barisal metropolitan police A K M Farukul Islam and Sajjad Taimur of intelligence department. The meeting took note that wholesale price of rice declined by Tk 2-5 per kg and Tk 2000-5000 per tonne from last weeks prices. But prices at retail markets remained at last week's rates between Tk 31 and Tk 44. The meeting noted that CAB failed to give any clear picture about the market during the week. Rice prices showed declining trend after joint forces started visiting markets anti-hoarding drives on Sunday. They also held meetings with traders and wholesalers. In northern districts of Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, and Joypurhat, rice prices declined from last week's level, wholesales and retailers said. At least 12,200 tonnes of rice imported from India entered the country in last seven days, according to sources at Hili land port. Md. Hahbub Hossain, general secretary of Thakurgaon Rice Mills Owners Association said rice price is decreasing in the district as Indian rice is entering the market. Price of coarse rice has come down to Tk 30-31 from last week's Tk 32-34, he said. Convenor of Dinajpur Rice Mills Owners Association Md. Mossadeque Hossain and Vice-president of Dinajpur Chamber of Commerce and Industries also said the market is showing a downward trend. In Joypurhat and Thakurgaon, traders said prices of coarse rice fell by Tk100 to Tk 150 per manund. During visits yesterday, it was found that Indian coarse rice Shorna was selling at Tk 30 per kg against Tk 31-32 last week at Bochaganj Hat, the biggest rice market in Dinajpur. Fine rice Pijam was selling at Tk 50 to 55 per kg, traders at the wholesale market said. Dinajpur due to various reason including insufficient fertiliser. Talking to this correspondent, Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner said they are continuing their motivation so that traders and rice mill owner do not hoard rice.
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