Prices of different varieties of rice have started going down in Dhaka markets following the government move to cut the duty on rice import.
City market witnessed a fall in retail and wholesale prices of rice by Tk1 to Tk2 per kg on Thursday, reports UNB.
On June 20, the government cut down the import duty of rice by 18% to keep rice price reasonable in retail markets.
About 12,000 tonnes of rice reached wholesale and retail markets in Dhaka before and after Eid-ul Fitr.
Businessmen said the price of the main food grain will decrease further when the government-imported rice will hit the market next week.
The government has taken the decision to import rice as its stocks fell short and failing to get expected supply from mill owners.
To meet the shortfall this year, the Ministry of Food has invited tenders for importing 15,00,000 tonnes rice.
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The first consignment of the imported rice will arrive at Chittagong Port by July 10, sources said.
Besides, importers have an opportunity to import rice for easy import policy.
Coarse rice including Miniket and Paizam has been sold at Tk54 to Tk56 per kg which was Tk55 to Tk56 a week ago in Dhaka. Fine rice has been sold between Tk55 and Tk56 per kg which was Tk58 to Tk60 per kg a week ago.
But the prices have remained unchanged in the wholesale market.
City dwellers bought a kg of coarse rice, including Swarna and China IRRI varieties of rice, between Tk43 and Tk46 this week, which they had to buy at Tk46 to Tk48 a week ago. Prices of different varieties of rice have decreased by Tk100 to Tk150 in 50 kgs sack.
Rice importers said they had to pay Tk9,125 for per tonne of rice prior to the cut, now they have to pay Tk3,225.
Also Read- Rice import duty to be cut by 18%
They further said when import duty was cut in Bangladesh, the price of rice increased by $30 to 40 in the Indian market.
According to Bhomra and Hili land ports, importers brought 11,080 tonnes rice between June 23 and July 6.
Kawsar Alam Khan, member of Bangladesh Rice Merchants Association and owner of Messrs Samota Traders, said that though he bought per kg rice between Tk30 and Tk32, they have to bear extra Tk5 to Tk6 per kg for increased transport cost and delay in release at the land ports.
Shaon, manager of Shuvo Rice Agency at Badamtoli Wholesale market in the city, said the prices of coarse variety of rice decreased by Tk2 per kg in the wholesale market.
Claiming that the price of rice has increased in the Indian market, he added that the varieties of rice they imported from Indian market at $390-400 per tonne some days ago, are now costing $420-430 per tonne.
M Manjurul Hossain Sajib of Messrs Sajib Rice Agency at Segunbagicha kitchen market told UNB that there is no impact on rice prices at retail level though the price has decreased slightly at the wholesale level.
"But fearing decrease of price, retailers willingly are selling rice at a reduced price. Price will actually decrease when new and imported rice will hit the market," he added.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
