Even with strict guidelines from both city corporations, the prices of essential goods have gone up exponentially in the month of Ramadan with some places charging double the regular price of cooking oil.
Having visited some kitchen markets on Friday including Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Kitchen Market, Karwan Bazar and New Market, the Dhaka Tribune has found the prices of eggplants, cucumber, green chilli, lentils, garlic, onions, gram flour, sugar, puffed rice and cooking oil had risen by 10% to 100% in just one week of Ramadan.
“While the prices of some goods have been the same, the prices of certain goods have gone up beyond comprehension. The government should really monitor the activities of kitchen market traders to make sure they are not increasing the prices to make a profit during Ramadan,” said Mushfiqa Aktar, a regular shopper at Gulshan DNCC market.
Consumers are frustrated that they have to pay arbitrarily hiked prices during Ramadan. Md Shohel Mia expressed similar sentiments: “I bought eggplants for Tk30, sugar for Tk60 and garlic for Tk220 per kg at Karwan Bazar just last week. They are now charging Tk70 just for eggplants!”
Traders argue that the price hike is because of a shortage in supply. “It is due to the shortage in supply but let’s face it, prices always go up during Ramadan,” said commodities trader Sobhan Talukdar from Karwan Bazar.
On May 23, DNCC Mayor Annisul Huq said all kitchen markets under his jurisdiction will be monitored and handed out a price list for the traders to maintain.
The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon had also set a price list for beef at Tk475 and mutton at Tk725.
Both the city corporations said they would take legal actions against any trader found intentionally increasing the prices and also for food adulteration.
“The prices of bitter gourd, pointed gourd, potato, egg, and dates have been the same,” said rickshaw-puller Tauhidul Alam at the Hatirpool kitchen market.
The Dhaka Tribune found the price of local garlic was at Tk100 to Tk150 while rice was priced between Tk45 to Tk50, Minicate was at Tk55 to Tk60, cucumber at Tk50 to Tk80 and puffed rice was found to be priced at Tk80.
At Sukrabad kitchen market, retailers were selling locally produced onions at Tk35 per kg, beef for Tk500-550 and mutton for Tk730 to Tk750.