Rice prices have suddenly increased across the country, including the capital, even during the peak paddy harvest season during the Boro season. According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), currently, coarse rice (Eri/Swarna) is being sold at Tk 52-60 per kg in the retail market, medium rice at Tk 56-65 and fine rice at Tk 70-82 per kg, which has increased by Tk 2-7 in a week.

In the northern city of Sherpur, the price of a sack of rice has increased by Tk 250-300 in two weeks. Mill owners say that paddy cannot be dried due to adverse weather conditions, resulting in a decrease in rice production. At the same time, pressure is increasing in the market as corporate companies and local traders have started hoarding.

In Naogaon, the price of rice has increased by Tk 3-8 per kg in a week. Rice mill owners said that they are having to buy paddy from farmers at higher prices. They complain that big companies are buying huge quantities of paddy from the field and storing it in warehouses, which has created a rice crisis for ordinary millers.

Rice market associations and wholesale traders say that some corporate and business groups have withdrawn a large amount of paddy from the market, creating an artificial crisis. These groups are destabilizing the rice market by ignoring the government's stockpiling policy. Market stakeholders believe that the 'syndicate' of millers and stockpilers has become more active due to the lack of surveillance and market supervision. Despite the administration's attention, effective action is still not visible.

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