The prices of wheat flour have increased remarkably in the retail markets, adding to owes of commoners already hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prices of maida (finer wheat flour) have been increased to Tk 49-51 per kilogram from Tk 46-48 a kg in last few days, according to trading sources.
It is the second time in last five months that the prices of flour have risen, they added.
New maximum retail prices (MRP) of maida, supplied by big millers, have been set at Tk 51 for one-kg pack and Tk 98 for two-kg pack.
The prices were Tk 48 and Tk 92 respectively in the retail markets few days back.
The price of 'Teer' branded aata (coarse flour), a product of City Group, has been fixed at Tk 41 a kg from Tk 38 a kg.
Brands like Fresh, Pushti, Pure and others have also started supplying products with increased MRP, said grocers.
Meanwhile, price of loose maida has also increased to Tk 40-42 a kg from Tk 36-38 a kg.
Price of loose aata was, however, remained almost static at Tk 31-33 a kg until Monday evening.
Rubel Rana, owner of Miaji General Store, a grocery at East Rayer Bazar in the city, said companies have started supplying aata and maida with new price tag from Saturday.
"We were informed before Eid (celebrated on May 14) that prices of both flour and edible oil would increase," he said.
The prices of loose aata and maida have also started increasing for last three days at wholesale level.
However, millers have termed the hike asa review following an upward trend in wheat prices in the international market as the country largely depends on imports.
On an average, the country imports 6.0 million tonnes of wheat, considered as the second staple, annually while domestic production is 1.1-1.4 million tonnes.
The demand for wheat is nearly 7.0 million tonnes in the country and it is rising by above 10 per cent every year, according to the food ministry.
Contacted, director of City Group Biswajit Saha said millers are reviewing the prices following rising import costs.
Wheat prices have been rising for last eight months, he added.
Russian wheat prices rose to above US$340 while North American (Canada/US) wheat to $390 per tonne in recent times, he said.
The global trade web-portal Index Mundi data showed that prices of wheat increased by 14-15 per cent in last seven months (October to April).
Average global price crossed $300 a tonne in April, it said.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan said a rise in flour prices will directly affect the commoners, already hit hard by skyrocketing essential prices as well as declining incomes.
The poor people largely depend on flour-made items for their two time of meals, he said, adding that the government should step up monitoring while Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) should provide logical prices of imported commodities time to time to prevent any unusual hike.
Both the government rice and wheat stocks should also be increased to over 1.5 million tonnes to prevent any shortage during this pandemic, he said.
The country imported 4.7 million tonnes of wheat this fiscal year so far while the government has a stock of 0.29 million tonnes of wheat in public warehouses, according to the directorate general of food.
The country is also expecting to produce 1.5 million tonnes of wheat this year.
