Price of liquid milk of almost all brands rises by Tk 10 per litre

The price of packaged liquid milk of almost all brands in the market has increased by up to Tk 10 per litre. This has further increased the cost of milk, one of the regular sources of nutrition for lower- and middle-income families. Many consumers have expressed dissatisfaction over the price hike. Some have said they have even reduced giving milk regularly to their children.

Last month, the price of Milkvita's half-litre milk was increased by Tk 5 to Tk 60. At the same time, the price of the one-litre packet was fixed at Tk 110 after an increase of Tk 10.

Recently, the prices of liquid milk of other brands have also increased. Farm Fresh, Aarong and Pran Dairy's half-litre milk is being sold at Tk 55 and one-litre packets at Tk 110 to Tk 115.

Consumers have expressed anger over the milk price hike. According to them, although milk is an important source of daily nutrition, repeated price increases have made it difficult for many families to buy. Some have even stopped giving milk regularly to their children due to the price hike.

A consumer who came to buy milk in the Rampura area of the capital said milk is an important part of a balanced diet, and everyone has heard about its necessity since childhood. Therefore, it was not right to increase the price so much at once.

Another consumer said he has stopped giving milk regularly to his child due to the price hike. In his words, although he used to give milk regularly before, after the price increase, it is no longer possible to bear that expense.

Retailers also said the sale of liquid milk has decreased after the price hike. They alleged that the prices of almost all brands of milk were increased by Tk 10 per litre at once.

However, the manufacturing companies claim that milk prices had to be adjusted due to rising production costs. Due to the increase in the cost of packaging materials, gas, electricity and transport, producing per litre of milk costs more than before.

Milkvita Chairman S M Amir Hamza Shatil said the price of packaging materials has increased a lot. Alongside this, transport costs have also increased due to the rise in gas and fuel prices. Due to these reasons, the organisation was running at a loss. Therefore, milk prices had to be increased out of compulsion.

Milkvita also said the purchase price of milk at the farmer level has been increased by Tk 3 per litre.

Amid the upward trend in the prices of daily necessities, the new price of liquid milk has created extra pressure on lower- and middle-income families. Consumers demand that the price of this important nutritional food item be kept within the purchasing capacity of ordinary people.