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Food minister lambasts rice millers, allied traders for rise in prices

| Updated: September 29, 2020 22:52:38


Food minister lambasts rice millers, allied traders for rise in prices

Food Minister Shadhan Chandra Majumder on Tuesday lambasted rice millers and their allied traders by blaming them for the continuous rise in prices of the staple.

Terming the current surge in rice prices illogical, the minister said the country's rice production was an all-time high this Boro season.

He said stern actions will be taken if anyone is found guilty of manipulating rice prices artificially.

The ministry organised the meeting following rocketing prices of rice in last one and half weeks.

Mr Majumder, while speaking as the chief guest, claimed millers and their allied traders have stored a huge amount of paddy.

He said there was no shortage of the staple as production crossed 20 million tonnes in the Boro season.

However, rice prices shot up by Tk 3.0-5.0 a kg in last one and half weeks, according to trading sources.

Coarse rice witnessed the maximum hike of Tk 5.0 per kg and selling at Tk 46-50 a kg on Tuesday in the city, said the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).

TCB recorded 10-11 per cent hike in coarse rice prices in last one and half weeks.

Later, at the meeting, the ministry along with wholesalers, retailers and vendors came to a consensus that Miniket rice will be sold at Tk 51.50 per kg and medium variety will be sold at Tk 45.

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