Kushtia millers raise rice prices again

Rice millers in Kushtia have once again raised rice prices, this time by Tk1-Tk4 per kg. Fine rice, otherwise known as Miniket, was selling at Tk58 per kg at the wholesale market on Saturday, whereas the price was Tk54 per kg on Thursday. The prices of coarse rice varieties, such as BR-28, also went up by Tk1-Tk1.5 per kg during this period. They rose for the second time in just two weeks amid widespread allegations of price manipulation against the rice mill owners. In late August, the millers had raised the prices of all rice varieties by Tk3 per kg. Media reports on the price anomaly prompted Kushtia Deputy Commissioner Md Zahir Raihan to call an emergency meeting with officials concerned on August 30. He gave an ultimatum to the mill owners to rein in the soaring prices within 24 hours. However, the mill owners did not take heed to the warning, instead claiming that they were compelled. They noted that paddy prices at the growers' level have been high due to low production in the preceding Boro season. Kushtia Rice Mill Owners Association President Jainal Abedin Prodhan said: “The mill owners have nothing to do with this. The farmers don't have the paddy. There is a huge paddy crisis across the country. Thus, the millers do not have bargaining power while buying paddy.” Meanwhile, a recent intelligence agency report has revealed that major rice mills in Kushtia are sitting on huge stocks of rice. The report mentioned that at least 70 mills in Kushtia have abnormally high stocks. Among them, six of the top mills have a total stock of 1 million tonnes of rice.