Dhaka: The price of most essential food items, including homegrown ones, remained stable since the beginning of Ramadan, although a disrupted supply system caused by the Middle Eastern situation has led to increased prices for some imported items. Consumers and officials reported that commodities such as regularly eaten rice, atta, pulses, and spices have maintained stable prices at various kitchen markets in the city for the last three weeks.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the prices of chinigura pelau rice, edible oil, chicken, and certain types of vegetables have surged significantly ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. Traders attribute this increase to transportation issues caused by the fuel crisis triggered by the ongoing US and Israeli conflict with Iran. Despite the stable prices of other rice varieties like miniket, nazirshail, paijam, and BR-28, the price of chinigura pelau rice has risen due to the added pressure from the Middle Eastern conflict on commodity prices.
The retail price for fine variety rice is currently Taka 70-85 per kg, medium variety at Taka 55-68, and coarse variety at Taka 48-52. Tajul Islam of New Shah Ali Rice Agency in Mirpur-1 mentioned that the stable rice prices over the last two months are attributed to the stockpile of large imported volumes and substantial supply from rice millers in anticipation of the upcoming boro season. As of early 2026, the government has approved importing over 6 lakh tonnes through new permits to bolster stocks and control rising prices, with consignments from India and Pakistan among the authorized imports.
However, rice traders report that the existing transportation issues due to fuel shortages have significantly increased transport costs over the past week. The cost to transport rice from Naogaon to Dhaka has surged to Taka 22,000 per shipment of 280-300 sacks, compared to Taka 14,000 a week prior. Shawpan, a manager of Satata Rice Agency, noted that the price for 50-kg pelau rice packs has risen to Taka 7,200 from the previous Taka 6,600 ahead of Eid.
Morshed Ahmed, a wholesaler at KR Rice Agency in Mohammadpur’s government Krishi Market, highlighted a ‘syndicate’ among rice trading companies as a key factor in the significant price hike for pelau rice. AHM Shafiquzzaman, president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), criticized certain businessmen for manipulating pelau rice trading and drastically increasing prices. He urged the government to take action against these monopolistic practices, particularly as they exploit the Iran conflict to destabilize the commodity market.
The CAB president called on the commerce ministry to conduct market monitoring through the Directorate of National Consumers’ Right Protection, emphasizing the need for government intervention in the market. The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) reported stable prices for lentils over the past month, with red lentil priced at Taka 90-105 per kg, local variety at Taka 150-160, and mug dal at Taka 120-180. The TCB index also noted slight declines in the prices of loose atta, packet atta, garlic, and ginger, while soybean oil prices increased by 4.71 percent in a week.
Meanwhile, broiler chicken prices have reached Taka 220 per kg, and sonali chicken has increased to Taka 350 per kg from Taka 170 and Taka 280 a month ago, respectively. Potato is currently priced at Taka 18-20 per unit, onion at Taka 35, and garlic at Taka 60, compared to Taka 20-25, Taka 40-60, and Taka 80-140, respectively, a month earlier.