The prices of essential commodities in Bangladesh continue to fluctuate despite large-scale imports raising serious concerns among consumers. Many people have noticed a stark contrast between the government’s assurances and the actual market situation, as they struggle to afford necessities.
Retailers and wholesalers blame each other for the rising prices, while consumers suspect that a powerful syndicate is manipulating the market due to weak oversight by the authorities.
SM Nazer Hossain, Vice President of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), stated that despite recent political changes, the market remains controlled by syndicates operating within different supply chains.
“These syndicates have merely changed faces, but the system remains the same,” he remarked.
CAB has proposed a system to regulate prices at every stage—from importers to dealers and retailers—to ensure a fair price structure. “Without such a system, the blame will continue to shift between millers, dealers, and retailers, while consumers bear the brunt of the consequences,” he added.
Hossain also pointed out that inadequate market monitoring has enabled traders to hoard essential commodities, leading to price hikes. “Unlike perishable goods such as vegetables, most essentials can be stockpiled. As a result, prices continue to rise, often exceeding double the actual demand,” he explained.
Recent market prices in Dhaka were as follows:
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- Dates: Tk 350–1,700 per kg
- Chickpeas: Tk 110 per kg
- Sugar (packaged): Tk 170 per kg
- Sugar (loose): Tk 145 per kg
- Lentils and other pulses: Tk 120–170 per kg
- Garlic: Tk 180–240 per kg
- Loose soybean oil: Tk 175 per litre
- Boiled rice (premium quality): Tk 84–110 per kg
- Aromatic rice: Tk 140–155 per kg
- Coarse rice (BR 28 and Sorna): Tk 56–64 per kg
- Beef: Tk 750–780 per kg
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According to CAB, the prices of essential commodities have increased by 10–25% compared to the previous year.
Abdul Awal Mintoo, former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), identified unstable exchange rates, high interest rates, and multiple layers of taxation as key factors driving up prices.
“Almost all consumer goods, except salt, are imported. As a result, supply chain disruptions and currency depreciation are making imported goods more expensive. Until the exchange rate and interest rates stabilise, prices will remain high,” he stated.
Towfiqul Islam Khan, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), pointed out that in Bangladesh, once prices rise, they rarely decline.
“For instance, in 2013, rice was Tk 36 per kg, but by 2022, it had increased to Tk 70 per kg. In the 2023–24 financial year, the price further rose to Tk 80–85 per kg, and now fine-quality miniket rice is being sold at Tk 85–90 per kg,” he explained.
He further noted that the prices of meat, poultry, soybean oil, and eggs have also surged, adding to consumers’ financial burdens.
“Inflation has steadily increased over time. From 2012 to 2022, the average inflation rate was 6.05% per year. In the 2024–25 financial year, inflation has exceeded double digits, with food inflation rising even higher, significantly impacting the prices of essential commodities,” he mentioned.
As Ramadan approaches, consumers—particularly those on fixed incomes and from lower-middle-class backgrounds—are facing increasing difficulties due to the rising cost of daily essentials. While market monitoring remains weak, syndicates appear to be exploiting the situation, keeping prices high despite increased imports.
Unless the government enforces stronger regulatory measures and stabilises economic factors such as exchange rates and inflation, the crisis is likely to escalate, making it even more challenging for ordinary citizens to afford necessities, market analysts have warned.
