People not taking to streets shows goods' prices are bearable: Agri minister
He said there is no reason for citizens to be dissatisfied
Despite double-digit food inflation, Agriculture Minister Md Abdus Sahid today (27 May) said people were not taking to the streets or staging protests because prices of commodities remain tolerable.
Speaking at an inter-ministerial meeting of the commerce, agriculture, and food ministries, he noted that while potato production is slightly lower and egg prices are higher, there is no significant dissatisfaction among citizens.
However, one kg of onion is currently priced at Tk75-80 in the Dhaka kitchen markets while vegetables are above Tk80, coarse rice is Tk52-54, potatoes are Tk55-60, broiler chicken is above Tk220, and beef is Tk780-800.
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Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu, and other officials attended the meeting. At the end of the meeting, the Agriculture Minister briefed the journalists.
In the meeting, they said that food price inflation stands at 10.2%.
According to TCB's market analysis, the price of coarse rice is Tk52, 2.04% higher than last year. Prices for flour and soybean oil have decreased, while lentil prices have increased by 13.16%, potato prices by 28.05%, local garlic by 38%, imported garlic by 50%, local ginger by 28.79%, and eggs by 3.16%.
A comparative analysis from the Bangladesh Tariff Commission was presented in the meeting which showed that prices of sugar, lentils, potatoes, and eggs also in Dhaka are higher than in Kolkata. For example, normal quality rice is Tk50 in Dhaka and Tk42.30 in Kolkata, flour is Tk40 in Dhaka and Tk35.25 in Kolkata, and soybean oil is Tk163 in Dhaka and Tk144 in Kolkata.
The agriculture minister emphasised efforts to improve market management, noting stable rice production despite a slight decrease in potato production and increased egg prices.
He assured that onion imports would prevent shortages.
State Minister Titu explained that food price inflation is driven by the devaluation of the taka against the dollar, high import tariffs, increased gas and electricity prices, higher transport costs, global instability, and weak market management.
He suggested measures to control inflation, including improving market systems, adjusting local prices to international levels, reducing excess profits, fostering market competition, imposing seasonal tariffs on agricultural products, and enhancing social safety net coverage.
In the meeting, the agriculture minister also highlighted potential damage to vegetables, watermelon, summer onion, tomato, betel nut, and mango-litchi due to the ongoing cyclonic storm Remal.
