ঢাকাসোমবার , ২৭ জুলাই ২০২৬
Bangladesh Food Security Network-KHANI, Consumers Association of Bangladesh(CAB) Chattogram and ISDE Bangladesh has expressed deep concern over the abnormal rise in rice prices and overall inflation. Calling for urgent government action to resolve this acute crisis affecting public life. KHANI, CAB Chattogram and ISDE Bangladesh have organized human chain Today, July 23 under the slogan “Restore Relief to the Rice Plate,” human chain programs were held in Chattogram Press Club Premises.
CAB Central Vice President & ISDE Bangladesh, Executive Director S M Nazer Ex President CUJ M Nasirul Hoque, Ex ADAB President Jesmin Sultana Paru, General secretary of Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation Advocate Zia Habib Ahsan, BNP Women Front City Vice President Farhana akhter, central Executive member Bangladesh fruits & Vegetable Exporters Association Md Selim Jahangir, Joint Secretary CSDF Md Jane Alam, CAB Sadargat President Shaheen Chowdhury, ISDE Programme Officer Raisul Islam, CAB Youth Group leader Abu Hanif Noman, Emdadul Islam, Rasel Uddin, Raisul Islam, Sidratul Muntaha, Ashakul Islam were taken participate the protest.
Speakers sayes, According to the Planning Commission’s updated data for June 2025, the price hike of rice alone contributed nearly 40 percent to overall food inflation in May. Despite sufficient production and supply of rice during the Boro season, the expected relief has not reached the market. Analysts point out that increased costs at the mill level, price volatility of paddy, illegal hoarding, and lack of market monitoring have led to this abnormal rice price hike. As a result, farmers are not getting fair prices for their paddy, while consumers are forced to buy rice at high prices.
Regarding this, KHANI’s General Secretary, Nurul Alam Masud, said, “Due to the imbalance between income and purchasing power, lower and middle-income people are removing nutritious items like fish, meat, lentils, or vegetables from their daily diets and are relying solely on rice-based meals. This is causing long-term malnutrition and health risks. The imbalance between income and expenditure is creating mental stress, especially affecting the health of children and the elderly the most.”
Speakers also said, A report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization notes that about 20 percent of people in Bangladesh are suffering from food insecurity, and 3 out of every 10 people cannot secure adequate food. As incomes have not kept pace with inflation, purchasing power has decreased. According to World Food Programme data from the last week of 2024, the minimum monthly expenditure for a person to consume a basic nutritious diet is now BDT 3,051, which is 69.5 percent higher than the food poverty line.
The participants demanding to resolve the critical situation of rice price hikes and overall inflation, the following demands were raised at the human chain:
The government must expand direct rice procurement from farmers.
Rationing systems must be introduced for poor and vulnerable populations.
Steps must be taken to protect the interests of small farmers by improving market, production, price determination, and consumption capacity.
Initiatives must be taken to expand the coverage of TCB (Trading Corporation of Bangladesh) and OMS (Open Market Sale) programs to provide targeted support for the food security of vulnerable groups.
Proper monitoring and swift market control are needed to bring rice prices within consumers’ reach by preventing syndicate malpractice.
