A customer buying vegetables from a roadside vendor at Karwan Bazar in the capital on Friday. Photo: Somoy TV online
There is no relief for consumers in kitchen markets as commodity prices have not yet become stable. Even, markets in Dhaka city are experiencing high retail prices for vegetables, eggs, and poultry meat, causing suffering for the common man.
Vendors said last few day’s rain disrupted supply chain across the country that pushed up prices of vegetables.
On the other hand, buyers said that the price of vegetables is increasing by leaps and bounds, there is no vegetable below Tk 50.
“The prices of essential commodities, fish and vegetables have increased as the supply system disrupted by the continuous rains over the last few days,” said Monir Hossain, a trader at the capital’s Karwan Bazar told The South Asian Times on Friday morning.
During visit to several kitchen markets in the capital on Friday, it was found that prices of almost all vegetables have gone up by Tk-5 to Tk 15 compared to a week ago.
Depending on quality, brinjal was selling for Tk80-Tk100 per kg, bitter gourd Tk 50 to Tk 60 per kg, ladies finger Tk 50 per kg, yard long bean Tk 80 to Tk 100 per kg, parboil Tk Tk50- to Tk 60 per kg, radish Tk 50 per kg, arum lobe Tk 50 to Tk 60 per kg, snake gourd Tk 60 per kg, teasle gourd Tk 80 per kg, carrot Tk 160 per kg, bean Tk 250 to Tk 300 per kg, tomatoes Tk 160 per kg and cucumber Tk 60 to Tk 70 per kg.
Potato was selling at Tk 50 to Tk 60 per kg, and a piece cauliflower Tk 70, per piece gourd at Tk 50 to Tk 60, one bundle red spinach Tk 20 (one bundle), Malabar spinach Tk 30, radish leaves Tk 20, slender amaranth Tk 20, water spinach Tk 10-15 and spinach Tk 20.
Besides, green chili prices have been fluctuating in the capital’s kitchen market. The price of green chili had suddenly increased last week, and again came down to Tk 160 180 per kg. It has increased again this week and is being sold at Tk 220 to Tk 240 per kg.
However, this correspondent found abundant supply of vegetables in the city markets.
Manunur Rahman, who works at a private organization, expressed his discontent at a kitchen market in Hatirpol in the capital on Friday saying that the prices of all vegetables should be low with the advent of winter taking advantage of plenty supply. But they are not decreasing this time and the price of vegetables have gone up by Tk10-Tk 20 per kg just in a week.
He said traders just look for excuses to raise prices…. they don't consider the consumer suffering.
Another buyers Alamgir said, “Although the extortion has reduced, the government is yet to break the market syndicate and it is manipulating prices of everything in various ways. This is intensifying the suffering of the lower and middle class people”.
Meanwhile, there was no significant change in the price of fish and most of the fish are being sold at higher prices than before on Friday.
Per kg labeo rohita was selling at Tk 360-380. Besides, farmed pangasius Tk 200-220 per kg, tilapia Tk 220-250, farmed climbing gourami (koi) Tk 240-280, farmed torrent catfish, (shing ) Tk 550-600, coral Tk 700, gangetic mystus (tengra) Tk 600 to Tk 700, wallago catfish (boal) Tk 700, and butterfish (pabda) at Tk 500-550 per kg.
Hilsa was selling in the market at the previous increased price. The fish weighing one and a half kg is being sold at Tk 2200 to Tk 2300 per kg. The national fish weighing one kg is being sold at Tk 1700 to Tk 1800 per kg.
Fish traders said that the fishermen have started stocking the hilsa to export India and the government imposed a month-long ban on netting hilsa. That’s why hilsa prices are not decreasing.
Abdul Aziz, a fish trader in the capital's Karwan Bazar, said, “Many have now started stocking hilsa ahead of Durga Puja and hilsa fishing will be closed for 22 days from next month. As the fish begins to stockpile, its supply to the market is decreasing; As a result, prices are increasing”.
Meanwhile, the price of ginger and garlic have also increased in the market by Tk 5 to Tk 15 per kg. Local variety garlic was selling at Tk 240 per kg, imported garlic at Tk 260 per kg, while ginger was selling at Tk 220 to Tk 280 per kg depending on quality.
Although the wholesale price of onion has decreased by Tk 2-3 per kg, its impact is yet to be seen in retail market. A few grocers have reduced its prices, but most of them are selling the onion at previous rates. Locally produced onion is being sold at Tk 110-115 per kg. Besides, Indian onion was selling at Tk 100-110 per kg and Pakistani onion at Tk 95-100 per kg.
According to retail traders, Indian onion has just started coming in the market. But there is not much demand. People are more inclined towards local onion. So the price has not been affected much yet. But the price will decrease in the future.
Meanwhile, after the government fixed the prices of eggs and chickens, their prices rose further in the market. The sellers said that eggs and chickens were sold at low prices in the market before the price was fixed. But after fixing the price, the poultry farmers increased eggs and chicken prices.
Didar, a trader in the capital's Karwan Bazar said, “There is no shortage of chicken in the market. The wholesale market has been on the upswing since the government fixed the prices. Because after fixing the price, the poultry farmers have also increased the price in the hope of high profit. Due to this, prices have also increased in the retail market. However, prices seem to be somewhat stable this week”
On Friday, broiler chicken was selling at Tk 180-190 per kg, sonali chicken at Tk 250-280 per kg, layer chicken at Tk 240 and red layer at Tk 280 per kg. Besides, duck was selling at Tk 550-600 (per piece) depending on the breed.
