Dhaka, July 4 -- Prices of rice are increasing in local markets despite a decline in the global market, causing hardship for lower-income groups in Bangladesh.

Global rice prices fell in June, as shown in the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) latest monthly report. The FAO All Rice Price Index dropped to 105.5 points in June 2025-down by 0.8 per cent from May and 22.8 per cent lower than a year ago.

The drop was mainly due to a fall in prices of Indica rice, a variety commonly consumed in South Asia. Trade in Asian Indica markets remained slow in June due to low buying interest and a rise in freight costs. Even though India sold some rice to African countries and Pakistan had limited stock, prices still fell in most regions-e...