Higher production costs and outbreak of blast disease attributed as reasons.

Prices of both coarse and fine varieties of rice have surged in the wholesale markets of Bogura.
Market insiders have attributed the price spiral to the higher production costs and outbreak of blast disease affecting paddy plants during the last Boro season.

Prices of the coarse varieties, such as BR-28, have risen by around 20 per cent, while prices of the finer varieties like Katari Bhog have hiked over a 21 per cent at the wholesale markets.

At Baroduari and Mirzapur markets, price of BR-28, which was selling at Tk 2,000 per maund (40 kg), has now shot up to Tk2,400. Meanwhile, Katari Bhog is selling at Tk2,800 per maund, up from Tk 2,300 just weeks ago.

Traders told the FE that the sharp rise in rice prices may not be solely due to production issues.

“There might be cartel-like behaviour among millers and traders who are trying to exploit the situation,” said one trader on condition of anonymity.

Other popular varieties like Ranjit, Shuvro Lata, and BR-29 have also witnessed notable price hikes.

Bogura, traditionally a rice-surplus district, appears to be struggling to maintain stable supply amid reduced cultivation and shifting control of the market.

Shah Md Abul Kalam Azad, president of the Bogura Rice Traders’ Association, said rice prices have increased by Tk 7.0-8.0 per kg in recent weeks.
“Finer varieties have surged even more-by as much as Tk 10 per kg,” he added.

Some conventional husking mill owners blame the dominance of auto rice mills for the current volatility, alleging that they may be stockpiling rice to manipulate the market.

ATM Aminul Haque, president of the Bogura Rice Mill Association, urged the government to take action and ensure husking mills resume operations to help stabilise the market.

Officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Bogura said the total Boro cultivation fell slightly short of the target-187,810 hectares were planned, but the actual cultivated area was 55 hectares less.

However, they insist this shortfall did not significantly impact overall production.

Motlubur Rahman, deputy director at the DAE, acknowledged the rise in production costs. “The cost of rice production has increased by Tk 4.0-Tk 5.0 per kg this Boro season,” he said.

Meanwhile, the government has set procurement prices this year at Tk 36 per kg for paddy and Tk 49 per kg for rice. The authorities planed to procure 1,272 tonnes of paddy and 1,026 tonnes of rice from Bogura.

Syful Kabir, Bogura’s food controller, said 198 mills were supposed to sign contracts for supplying rice, but only 154 have done so as of now.

Many millers claim that they are unwilling to supply rice at the government-fixed rates, which remain significantly lower than the current market prices.

Golam Kibria of Kibria Auto Rice Mill expressed doubts about reaching the procurement target this year. “The market rate is too high compared to what the government is offering,” he said.

Published Date: June 17, 2025