Zakir Azad, Cumilla

The printing and publishing industry of Cumilla is facing a new challenge as the price of paper has increased without overcoming the problems caused by Corona in three and a quarter years.

Specially since the price of paper has doubled, local newspaper publishers in Cumilla are in trouble.

At the same time, all the institutions related to the printing industry are under threat. Many writers have stopped publishing their books because of the prohibitive cost of paper. Not only paper, but ink and publishing related accessories have also increased in price abnormally.

Publishers and editors of local newspapers published from Cumilla said that even though the price of paper has increased, the price of advertisements and newspapers has not increased. A print newspaper is a document that can be preserved for ages. Print newspaper publication is currently under threat due to increase in the price of paper.

With the touch of modernity, online newspapers are taking over the place of print newspapers. Print newspapers are losing readers. Reader crisis on one hand, paper price increase on the other. The publication of print newspapers fell on the journey of these two. In cases where the readership of low-priced newspapers is decreasing day by day, if the price of the newspaper is increased in coordination with the price of the paper, it will become difficult to find readers.

Several local editors said that although the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the increase in the price of the dollar, the price of paper should not increase so much. Here the mill owners of the paper industry have syndicated and increased the price of paper. On the other hand, printing costs have increased due to the increase in ink prices. So the crisis in newspaper publishing has to be faced.

However, Zahidur Hossain, owner of Chandina Paper House in Newmarket area of the city, said that the sale of ledger paper is fine due to specific demand. However, as 80 percent paper is used for printing, our average sales have decreased. In addition, the price of newsprint paper has increased at a higher rate, as the demand in the wholesale markets of Dhaka is comparatively low, it is difficult to get paper in the local market. We are afraid to buy paper at a higher price if necessary. If this continues, the printing business will become very difficult, says Jasim Uddin, a printing merchant from Newmarket area of Cumilla city.

Paper traders said the price of paper has only increased over the week. The account which could be bought for 40-45 taka, now has to be bought for 70 to 76 taka. 270 Tk Rim is now around Tk 420. Besides, the price of newsprint and ledger paper has increased in the same way. However, the price of laser paper has increased the most this week. The price per ton increased by 30 thousand taka to 1 lakh 70 thousand taka. The price of newsprint paper has increased from 65 thousand to 87 thousand rupees per ton. The price of this cheap paper has increased by 35 percent compared to last week.

Meanwhile, just a month ago, the price of one ream (80 grams) of printing paper was Tk 1,250. Currently, the price of that paper has increased to 3800 rupees. Instead of Tk 175 per single newspaper plate, it is now Tk 190 to Tk 220. Printing cost is now 250 taka instead of Tk 200 .

Related to the printing industry of Cumilla said that the price of paper has been increasing abnormally since last August. Paper prices doubled in August compared to October. Again in November i.e. in the current month, the price of paper increases again. In October, a ream of 55 gram paper was Tk 1,700. In November, that paper became 2,200 taka . At that time, 61 grams was Tk 2,100 and now it has increased to Tk 2,600. 65 grams was Tk 2,300 this month, it has increased to Tk 2,800. Similarly, 70 grams of paper was Tk 2,700 which is now Tk 3,000.

Wali Ullah Ripon, executive member of Cumilla regional office of Bangladesh Printing Industry Association and owner of the network, said, if the current rate of paper price continues to rise, our business will be closed.

On the one hand, the price of paper is more than double, on the other hand, the supply is less. Every day we have a fight with the customer. All orders have halved due to increase in paper prices.

Rahman Mia, the owner of Udayan Printers in Chandina Plaza of the city, said that the price of paper per 100 mullat has increased from Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,600 in the last one week. The price of the same amount of art card is now up to Tk 500 more. 100 art cards are available for 3 thousand 500 taka. The price of one ream of colored paper has increased from Tk 850 to Tk 150 and is being sold at Tk 1,000 in wholesale.

Cumilla Purpose Manager Md Suman said that the price of paper materials like ledger has increased by 27 percent in the last one week. The price of 100 medium size envelopes has increased from Tk 25 to Tk 30. Everything is getting out of reach. The prices in the Dhaka market have increased and the prices have also increased in our local market.

Bahar Printers Proprietor Md. Bahar Uddin said that the publishing industry is completely dependent on paper. Publishing houses have to buy paper from the market. But this increase in the cost of paper is having an adverse effect on the publishing industry.

If the price of paper continues to rise every week, our publishing industry will be under threat.

Daily Shironam editor Nitish Saha said, once the government used to subsidize newspapers, it has stopped now. At the rate at which the cost of paper and printing has increased, we have to speed up the publication of regular magazines. The price of newsprint paper has also increased. If the price of paper increases like this, it will be almost impossible to publish the newspaper. Privately owned paper producers should now stand by newspapers.

He also said that the title is now published in newsprint as the only daily in Cumilla . Papers printed in offsets of Cumilla should shun luxury and switch to newsprint. Because, news paper will be printed in news print. It will save a lot of money.

Osman Gani, publisher of the upcoming publication, said, "This is a completely artificial crisis that no one but the government can stop." It is a very sad fact that paper prices are increasing every week. The price of anything in the country did not suddenly double like this. This is seriously affecting our publications. That is why the government should bring the issue under control by reducing taxes quickly.

He said that NCTB will also face problems due to this price increase. In this situation, the sooner the government takes action, the better. Otherwise, the publishing industry will be under threat.