The price of rice, especially of the fine varieties, has gone up once again as the millers increased the price at the mill gates in Kushtia and northern districts.

Traders said the price might go even higher if the government does not make immediate market interventions.

Asked about the reason behind the price hike, Convener of Bangladesh Rice Mills Association Layek Ali said it is almost six month since the Boro harvest in March-April and Aman will be harvested in November. Farmers’ stock of Boro is over and they are now coming to market creating more demand of rice. At the same time, traders’ stock of rice is almost finished, which is obvious before the Aman harvest, he added.

“The traders who could not make good profits because of government monitoring earlier are now trying to make up for the lost opportunity,” Layek Ali told the daily star over phone from Joypurhat.

Wholesaler at Karwan Bazar and Mohammadpur Krishi Market yesterday sold coarse varieties of rice, including BR-28 and paijam, at Tk 22-26 a kilogram, which was Tk 20-24 before the Eid.

Of the fine varieties, miniket was yesterday sold at Tk 34-38 a kg, which was Tk 32-36 before.

“We have not ordered for fresh supplies after Eid, but have information that millers have increased the rice price,” said Abdur Rahim, a rice trader at Karwan Bazar.

“After Eid, we are buying miniket at Tk 35 a kg from Kushtia, about Tk 3-4 more than the earlier price. We shall have to sell rice of the new consignment no less than Tk 36-38 a kg. However, in the retail market the price rose by Tk 0.5-2 a kg although the traders are selling from their old stock,” said Bijoy Chowdhury, a trader at Karwan Bazar.

Layek Ali said not only in Dhaka, rice price in the rural areas is also on the rise.

“Price of each variety has increased by Tk 3-4 in Joypurhat and Naogaon. After the 18th day of Ramadan, coarse rice was Tk 16-17 a kg, but yesterday it sold at Tk 19-20 in these districts,” he said.

Bholanath, manager of Janata Rice Agency in Babu Bazar, said a few millers control the business of fine rice. They are manipulating the markets in Dhaka and other cities, apprehending poor harvest during Aman season.

Layek said the rice market could be made stable if the government launches programmes like open market sales and rationing.