Sangsad Bhaban: Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Monday told Parliament that prices of rice and onion have become normal gradually in the market.

The rice price increased as flood damaged crops in the northern and Haor areas, said Tofail. It is not true that the price did not fall, he said replying to a supplementary question from Awami League MP Shubid Ali Bhuiyan (Comilla-1).

Mentioning different steps taken to reduce the rice price, the Commerce Minister said the rice price was fixed at Tk 39 per kilogram, reports the UNB.

About the onion price, he said onion is imported from India and this year the onion production saw fall due to flood there.

The onion price was above Tk 100 per kilogram in the country’s market, which now came down at Tk 55-60. ‘The prices of rice and onion have come down at normal level gradually,’ Tofail said.

In reply to another question from AL MP Mohammad Abdullah (Laxmipur-4), the Commerce Minister also said the onion price decreased at normal level with the government’s initiative and beginning of the fresh onion production.

Food Minister Qamrul Islam told the House that prices of food grains remain static in the country’s market. The food prices reduced with the fall in food prices in the international market.

The price of a kilogram rice declined by Tk 4-7, while the price of atta (flour) is now at the lowest level, he said replying to a question from JSD MP Lutfa Taher (Reserved Seat-40).