Gold prices in the domestic market have risen once again following four consecutive downward adjustments, bringing a noticeable shift in the retail jewelry sector. The Bangladesh Jeweller Association announced the price hike, which became effective Wednesday morning. Market insiders attribute this adjustment to the rising cost of refined and pure gold in the local market, coupled with fluctuating trends in international bullion trading. This increase comes after a prolonged period of relief for consumers, during which gold prices had dropped by a cumulative total of over 10,000 Taka per bhori over four successive revisions.
Under the newly announced rate chart, the price for a bhori (11.664 grams) of premier quality 22-karat gold has been fixed at 2,23,074 Taka. Meanwhile, 21-karat gold is now priced at 2,13,043 Taka per bhori, while 18-karat gold has climbed to 1,82,950 Taka. Traditional system gold is being sold at 1,49,474 Taka per bhori. Prior to this revision, customers were purchasing 22-karat gold at 2,20,858 Taka, indicating a direct increase of 2,216 Taka for the highest purity standard. Despite the upward revision in gold rates, silver prices have remained completely untouched, offering stability in the silver ornament segment.
Globally, the precious metals market has witnessed significant volatility throughout the year. Market watchers note that while geopolitical tensions typically drive investors toward safe-haven assets like gold, recent economic shifts—including rising yields on US dollar-denominated bonds and currency fluctuations—have occasionally exerted downward pressure on international gold prices per ounce. However, localized factors such as import regulations, foreign exchange rates, and the domestic availability of pure bullion play a pivotal role in determining retail prices within the country.
Jewelry industry representatives emphasize that pricing adjustments are routine and strictly dependent on international market parity and the cost of raw materials. As consumers adapt to these new pricing tiers, market participants are closely monitoring global economic indicators, inflation rates, and currency valuations. The stabilization of these external factors will ultimately dictate whether local gold prices experience further corrections or maintain their current trajectory in the upcoming weeks.
