Prices of daily essentials, especially vegetables, went up in the capital’s kitchen markets as supplies suffered setback during the 60-hour hartal that ended on Wednesday.
Commodities could not reach Dhaka from the countryside, causing short supply of the essential items, said Razzak, a seller of vegetable at Vanga Bazar in Shukrabad area.
While talking to the Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday afternoon, he said the fare of goods-laden trucks had almost doubled, from Tk20,000 to Tk40,000 per truck in some cases. Razzak said the prices of vegetables including brinjals, beans and cucumbers had increased from Tk10 to Tk15 per kg.
“I would not buy potato today as it is Tk24 per kg, but tomorrow I could get it at Tk18 per kg as there is no hartal,” said Rasel, who works in a private company.
After bargaining for a few minutes with Sohel at Bou Bazar at West Panthapath, Rasel, who is from the Panthapath area, went away with frustration.
Sohel expressed his anger, saying: “You called 60-hour hartal. Why would the prices not go up when trucks cannot move?”
“Is not it a high price, with gourd is selling at Tk60 per kg?” Sufia Khatun questioned. Sufia usually comes to Shukrabad kitchen market to buy essentials. She said the prices of essentials are high all the time.
The prices of all kinds of fish were also high in the markets on Wednesday, said Jamal at Shukrabad kitchen market. He said small quantities of fish had come to Dhaka due to hartal.
He said the prices of fish had increased by a range between Tk20 and Tk30 per kg. “We usually sell fish at Tk280 per kg, but during the hartal we selling them at Tk300,” he said.
Shop owner Yousuf at Bismillah Centre said because of hartal, all kinds of rice including miniket, najirshail were being sold by Tk2 per kg higher for the last few days.
He also said the wholesale prices of pulses had gone up by Tk10 per kg. “Before hartal, we bought pulses at Tk88 per kg and during the hartal we have to pay Tk98 per kg,” he said, adding that they were retailing the lentils at Tk110 per kg.
He admitted the prices of bottled edible oil had not increased. But the prices of potato had gone up, he added.
Fahim, owner of a department store, generally sells oil, soap, milk and other dry food items.
He said his sales witnessed a sharp fall due to hartal, although the prices of his items had not increased.
