Story in: July-2022

Story: Prices of all things including flour are rising in the country, public life is becoming unstable

Prices of all things including flour are rising in the country, public life is becoming unstable


Rice is the staple food of the people of Bangladesh. The next position is flour. The price of rice has gone up in the season full of rice. Now the price of flour is increasing regularly. According to the government-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the price of flour has risen by 40 percent in one year. And the price of open and packaged flour has increased from 49 to 66 percent. However, the price quoted by TCB is lower than the present market price.

 

The companies increased the price of flour after the increase in the price of wheat in the country. The Indian government announced on May 14 that it would stop exporting wheat to control its market. After that the price in Bangladesh increased another point. But India says its neighbors will get wheat. Bangladesh's food ministry also says they will be able to import wheat from India.

 

Wheat imports from the two countries have stopped since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. On the contrary, imports from India were increasing. Between March 1 and May 12, 63 per cent of the total wheat imports came from India.

 

The country has an annual demand of about 75 lakh tons of wheat. About 65 lakh tons of it is imported. The companies import wheat and sell it in packaged flour. It is also sold in the open. The price of open flour had already gone up. This time the price of packaged flour increased.

 

A few days ago, traders in the capital's Karwan Bazar reported that new prices of flour from several companies had entered the market. Again, representatives of some companies have started taking orders at new prices. Then as the price of flour fluctuated it came to a standstill. But the companies have again increased the price of packet flour. '

 

Some shopkeepers in Dhaka's Maghbazar said, 'Flour prices are constantly rising. Prices are rising so fast that buyers are annoyed. We are also annoyed to remember the new price again and again. '

 

Open flour is being sold at around Tk. 50 per kg in the market and open flour/Mayda is being sold at Tk 60 to 65 per kg. Flour/Mayda is made by breaking up high meat wheat in the country. Due to the increase in the price of flour/Mayda, the prices of bread, biscuits and similar products have gone up in the market.

 

Shopkeepers claim the new noodle companies have raised prices. A large packet of noodles from a well-known brand is priced at Tk 240, up from Tk 210 a week ago. This large packet contains 12 small packets. This means an increase of two and a half Tk per packet. Other companies have similarly increased prices.

 

The price of red eggs of farm chickens in the market is usually around Tk 30. Dozens are available for around Tk 90. Now the sellers are asking for Tk 42 to 43 for that egg and Tk 125 to 130 for a dozen. The price of domestic chicken and duck eggs is more, Tk 150 per dozen, being sold at Tk 185 in retail. TCB says the price of eggs is now 40 percent higher than a year ago.

 

Prices of almost all food items including rice, pulses, oil, sugar, powdered milk and daily necessities like soap, shampoo and toothpaste have also gone up in the country recently. Low and middle income people are now very much lost. -Editor

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