Perishable Goods Account for 23% of Inflation in Bangladesh

Gold prices in Bangladesh have surged to record highs, outpacing even optimistic global projections. As of Sunday, 22-carat gold hit Tk 167,833 per bhori, with one ounce of gold locally priced at Tk 447,548—about Tk 44,824 more than the current international rate.

Despite persistent high inflation exceeding 9%, Bangladesh’s public food distribution under social protection schemes dropped by over 7% year-on-year in the first three quarters of FY2024-25, mainly due to political instability and disruptions in local governance. This reduction—from 25.34 lakh tonnes last year to 23.46 lakh tonnes—comes as rising prices continue to strain the poor.

The interim government has approved the export of 25,000 tonnes of aromatic rice by 133 companies, including Square Food and Beverage, Pran-RFL Group, and Akij Essentials, each permitted to export 500 tonnes, while others like Ispahani and Tanveer Foods were allowed 400 tonnes.

Reckitt Benckiser (Bangladesh) announced a record 3,330% cash dividend (Tk 333 per share) for 2024, despite an 8% decline in annual profit, which stood at Tk 75.20 crore. This drop in profit was accompanied by a decrease in earnings per share, falling from Tk 173.65 in 2023 to Tk 159.17.

Rice prices in Bangladesh have been rising despite a global decline. The FAO All Rice Price Index dropped by 1.7% in March 2025, down nearly 25% over the past year, reaching a three-year low. However, in Bangladesh, rice prices increased from July-August 2024, peaking just before Eid-ul-Fitr.

Bangladesh has met 76% of its FY25 rice import target, bringing in 0.38 million tonnes out of the planned 0.50 million tonnes, with shipments from India, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Vietnam. The food ministry has now extended the import target to 0.90 million tonnes until December.