Flour became further pricier in the country amid gradual surge in its global market prices, raising sufferings of the commoners, who are already battered with the rocketing price trend of essentials.
Prices of coarse flour (atta) and finer flour (maida), both in loose and packet forms, showed a hike by Tk 2.0-3.0 a kg in last one and half week in the city markets.
Branded packet maida prices shot up to Tk 65 a kg and loose maida to Tk 55 a kg at retail level.
Loose atta, price of which showed a slight decline in January, again rose to Tk 42 a kg and packet atta to Tk 50 a kg.
The finer wheat prices increased by more than 7.0 per cent in a week, while its current price is 41 per cent higher than that of a year ago, said the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
Contacted, Biswajit Saha, director of City Group - which markets essential commodities of 'Teer' brand, said the import cost of wheat from Australia and Canada has increased to more than US$520 a tonne in recent weeks, which was maximum $380 a year earlier.
He noted that loose atta and maida prices have not increased here in line with their price surge in the global market.
Agri economist Prof Golam Hafeez Kennedy said the global food prices are gradually increasing, especially after the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Both the countries are leading exporters of food-grain, fuel and fertiliser in the world.
He opined that the government should encourage the private sector to raise import of wheat, as the demand for the grain is over 8.0 million tonnes here, while its local production is below 1.0 million tonnes.
The Ministry of Food report showed that the private sector brought only 2.84 million tonnes of wheat in the July-April period of this fiscal year (FY), 2021-22, which was more than 3.8 million in the corresponding period of last FY.
The total wheat import in July-April period of FY 22, including that by the public sector, is 3.3 million tonnes so far, the report added.
A wheat flour miller said rising global price and surge in shipping cost are discouraging many companies to import the grain in a large scale.
Indian wheat, globally considered as the cheapest wheat grain, has shot up to $400 a tonne.
Many local companies have squeezed their import by 50 per cent in this FY amid such a rocketing price trend in the global market.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Vice President S M Nazer Hossain said the government should have a buffer food stock of 3.0 million tonnes, of which wheat should constitute 30 per cent, following the critical condition of global food supply chain.
Bangladesh's wheat demand has increased to 8.0-8.5 million tonnes in recent years, followed by change in people's food habit. The country imports more than 95 per cent of the total demand from North America, Australia, Ukraine, Russia and India.
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