Soaring Aromatic Rice Prices: Surging by Tk 120 Per Kg in Two Months Leaves Consumers Struggling

Staff Correspondent:

Amid the relentless inflation affecting daily essentials like edible oil, lentils, and vegetables, aromatic (pulao) rice prices have skyrocketed. Just two months ago, a kilogram of quality aromatic rice sold for around Tk 140 to 150, but it has now surged to Tk 200 to 230 in retail markets. This sudden and abnormal price hike has left average consumers deeply distressed, raising serious concerns about how common people are expected to cope with the ongoing economic strain.

An Increase of Tk 60 to 80 Per Kilogram in Weeks

Visits to various retail and wholesale markets across Dhaka and other regions reveal an alarming trend in the aromatic rice market. Depending on the brand, packaged chinigura or kalijira rice is selling from Tk 210 up to Tk 230 per kg, while open-market aromatic rice is rarely found below Tk 180 to 200.

According to wholesale traders, a 50-kg sack of quality chinigura rice costs roughly Tk 2,000 to 3,000 more than it did just a few weeks ago. Wholesale prices alone have spiked by Tk 60 to 80 per kg, transferring a heavy burden directly onto everyday shoppers.

Why the Crisis Despite a Surplus?

Agricultural data and market analysts indicate that Bangladesh produces approximately 1 million metric tons of aromatic rice annually, while domestic demand hovers around 400,000 tons, leaving a substantial surplus of nearly 600,000 tons. Despite this surplus, experts point to several key drivers behind the sudden price jump:

1. Export Pressures and Syndicates: Traders note that growing demand among expatriate Bangladeshis and export permissions have influenced the market. However, consumer rights groups and market analysts argue that a dishonest syndicate of mill owners and middlemen is artificially creating scarcity to reap massive profits.
2. Hoarding and Manipulation: Despite adequate production and storage, specific mills and warehouses are allegedly holding back stock to drive up prices.

Deep Distress for Middle and Lower-Middle-Class Families

Aromatic rice is not merely a luxury item for festivals; it plays a regular role in various households. When middle and lower-middle-class families are already struggling to absorb the shocks of high prices for cooking oil, meat, and vegetables, the record surge in rice prices deepens their financial hardship.

Frustrated shoppers at local markets voiced their anger, stating, ‘Every single food item is now beyond our purchasing power. When the price of basic aromatic rice nearly doubles in a matter of weeks, how are ordinary people supposed to survive?’

Expert Opinions and the Way Forward

Market analysts emphasize that stringent market monitoring is vital to stabilize domestic supplies and keep food accessible. Authorities must crack down on illegal hoarding and closely evaluate export policies to prevent unscrupulous traders from exploiting consumers for excessive profits.

The collective demand from the public is clear: swift regulatory action must be taken to dismantle market syndicates and bring essential commodity prices down to an affordable level before daily life becomes entirely unsustainable for the average citizen.