The prices of rice, atta and eggs have increased further in the capital over a couple of days.

Traders said that millers increased the price of rice citing the hike in the price of paddy while consumer goods processing and manufacturing companies, who control the market, increased the price of atta.

Retailers also said that owners of layer farms and wholesalers increased the price of eggs following the price hike of other commodities.

Traders expressed their surprise as the prices of rice and eggs were continuing to rise on the wholesale market at very short intervals.

Food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Sunday blamed rice mill owners and big consumer goods processing companies for the increasing price of rice in the harvesting season of boro paddy.

He, however, warned that stern actions would be taken against the businesses involved in the rice price manipulation.

Rice prices have gone up by Tk 2–4 a kg in the past two days on the city market.

Coarse-variety rice sold for Tk 50–52 a kg in the capital on Sunday.

The medium-quality item retailed at Tk 54–58 a kg while the BR-28 variety, also known as the lower-grade miniket, retailed at Tk 58–62 a kg.

The fine miniket variety sold for Tk 65 –68 a kg while the premium-quality miniket for Tk 70–75 a kg in the city on the day.

The fine-variety Najirshail retailed at Tk 80 a kg and the premium quality at up to Tk 85 a kg on the day.

The atta market is under control of a handful of business groups and they have raised the price of the commodity by Tk 6-8 a kg in the past two days.

Unpackaged atta sold for Tk 45–50 a kg while the packaged item for Tk 55–58 a kg at retail shops on Sunday.

Retailers said that the companies had recently set the price of a two-kg pack of atta at Tk 108–115.

At a food ministry meeting on boro procurement and market monitoring on the day, minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said that rice mill owners and some business houses had been procuring paddy from market but they were not producing rice.

Rice price has increased in the boro harvest season as mill owners and business groups are stockpiling paddy, he noted.

The minister asked food department officials to collect information on the stock of paddy with rice mills and business groups.

‘Several cooperate houses have started rice business. They are hoarding paddy and selling packaged rice on the market at high prices,’ Sadhan Chandra further said.

The price of eggs have increased by Tk 2 a hali (four pieces) and the item sold for Tk 42–43 a hali on Sunday in the city.