The government last month set the prices of three agricultural products to curb unfair practices in the market.
However, the prices of potatoes and onions have only decreased on paper, as in reality, traders are not selling these products at government-fixed prices.
Even after three weeks, the government has not been able to control potato and onion prices. In fact, onion prices have gone up instead of coming down.
As per government pricing, onions should be sold at a maximum of Tk64 to 65 per kg. Potatoes are priced at Tk35 or 36 for consumers.
Despite this, traders continue to sell potatoes at Tk45 per kg and local onions at Tk95 per kg. While the potato price remains unchanged from last week, onion prices have increased by Tk5. Local onions were priced at Tk90 per kg last week.
During a visit to several kitchen markets in Mirpur on Friday, it was observed that traders were selling brown eggs at Tk144-145 per dozen and white eggs at Tk140 per dozen, which was Tk140 and Tk135 respectively last week.
Local onions are priced at Tk95 per kg, cross-variety onions at Tk90 per kg, Indian onions at Tk75 per kg, and potatoes at Tk45 per kg.
Both Indian and cross-variety onions are selling for Tk5 more compared to last week, when they were priced at Tk70 and Tk85 per kg, respectively.
Eggplants were being sold at Tk80, round eggplants at Tk100, cucumbers at Tk60-80, bitter melons at Tk80, pointed gourd at Tk60, papaya at Tk40, spiny gourd at Tk100, carrots at Tk120, radish at Tk80, tomatoes at Tk100, pumpkin at Tk50, okra at Tk60, snake gourd at Tk60, sponge gourd at Tk50, yardlong bean at Tk100, green chili at Tk240, coriander leaves at Tk200, gourd at Tk80 and wax gourds at Tk60 per piece.
Kamrul Hossain, a retailer of potatoes and onions, said: “I am not sure why the prices have increased. It seems like they might rise even further. I purchased these onions yesterday (Thursday) at Tk82 for cross-variety and Tk84 for local onions. Today (Friday), wholesalers are selling cross-variety onions at Tk88 and local onions at Tk90.”
Mominul, a jobholder, who came to the market for buying potatoes and onions, said: “We do not really have a choice. We have to eat at the price they set.”
Salam, another buyer, said: "Since the price is not decreasing, we have reduced the consumption of potatoes and onions. I used to have local onions before, but now I eat Indian onions.”
On the other hand, Indian ginger is being sold at Tk240, Chinese garlic at Tk190-200 and local garlic at Tk240. Last week, Chinese garlic was sold at Tk180 and local garlic at Tk200.
In the span of a week, the price of garlic has increased up to Tk40.
Apart from this, the prices of all types of vegetables are also increasing in the market. No vegetable below Tk40 is available.
Vendors said the rise in vegetable prices to the rise in prices due to rain. Vegetables are getting damaged in the rain, so now the prices are higher.
A vendor at a local kitchen market said: "We are buying vegetables at higher prices, but after bringing our vegetables, it is getting wasted due to rain. Tell me what we are going to do.”
Besides, ilish was being sold at Tk1,050-1,700, labeo rohita (rui) at Tk600, catla at Tk600, shrimp at Tk800-1,000, ganges river-sprat (kechhki) at Tk500, labeo calbasu (kalibaush) at Tk450, gangetic koi (koi) at Tk400, butterfish at Tk450, barbel Tk450-600, Scribbled goby (bele) Tk 1,000-1,200 and helicopter catfish at Tk1,200.
In the market, broiler chickens were priced at Tk190-200 per kg, and beef at Tk750-780 per kg.
The price of grocery store products is the same as before.