Prices of essential commodities including groceries and vegetables went up sharply in Dhaka kitchen markets ahead of Ramadan.
Green chili price increased 100% to Tk50 a kilogram on Thursday from the previous day’s price of Tk25.
Dhaka Tribune saw the price hikes of the vegetables and groceries during a visit to Karwan Bazar kitchen market.
Prices of aubergine, lentil, onion, rice, sugar, garlic, ladies finger and puffed rice went up the markets despite the commerce minister’s warning against “price manipulation” during the month of Ramadan that is likely to begin tomorrow.
The price of onion increased up to Tk10 a kg, while the puffed rice price went up by Tk7 and garlic by Tk10-Tk15 compared to just one day ago, according to the data of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh. But prices of potatoes and dates were almost stable, said Tawhidul Alam Khan, a customer at the Karwan Bazar market.
As usual, the retailers blamed the supply shortage for the price hike of vegetables.
“This (price hike) has become usual during Ramadan as I have seen in the past 15-20 years of my business,” said Md Sobhan Doptori, a retailer and wholesaler.
The prices of some vegetables and food items go up unusually as the demand increases during the Ramadan and a section of the traders cash in on the situation in every Ramadan.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
