Middlemen and vested groups are misleading the public by falsely claiming that the cold storage rent for potatoes has doubled compared to the previous year, according to the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA).

BCSA President Mustafa Azad Chowdhury Babu said at a press conference today (8 February) that last year, the actual rent for storing potatoes was Tk7 per kg, while these groups are falsely claiming it was Tk4 per kg.

He further stated that such misleading information would make proper management of the country’s cold storage industry difficult.

According to BCSA, currently, the costs associated with cold storage operations have increased across various sectors. From bank loan interest and electricity bills to staff salaries and other related expenses, all have risen significantly.

After analysing these costs, it was determined that in 2025, the storage rent for potatoes in cold storage would be Tk9.62 per kg.

However, the association said at the press briefing that, considering the financial capacity of the country’s potato farmers and cold storage operators, BCSA decided on 23 November 2024 to set the storage rent at Tk8 per kg.

At the press conference, held at the BCSA office in the capital’s Old Paltan area, Mustafa also called on the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture, and the Tariff Commission to verify the justification for this rent determination.