With the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan, prices of daily essentials — including local and imported fruits — have surged, adding pressure on consumers. Some fruits have increased by as much as Tk100 to Tk150 per kilogram.
Sellers attribute the hike to higher demand during Ramadan, while buyers say price increases during the month if Ramadan have become a customary practice.
Visits to different markets in the capital on Saturday showed apples selling at Tk380 to Tk440 per kg, depending on the variety. Oranges were priced at Tk350 per kg, pomegranates at Tk560, pears at Tk440, malta at Tk300 to Tk350, and dates at Tk600 to Tk700 per kg. Grapes were selling at Tk450 per kg.
Among local fruits, a dozen Sabri bananas were selling at Tk120, while Sagar bananas were priced between Tk120 and Tk150 per dozen. Small pineapples were being sold at Tk60 to Tk80 each, jujube at Tk100 to Tk120 per kg, papaya at Tk150 per kg, and guava at Tk130 to Tk150 per kg.
Watermelons were scarcely seen in the markets. Though available at a few shops, prices were steep, ranging from Tk120 to Tk150 per kg.
Trader Jahangir said: “Prices are fixed at the wholesale market. Since rates are high there, we are forced to sell at higher prices. The price of almost every fruit has increased by Tk100 per kg. We cannot sell at a loss after buying at high prices.”
Abdur Rahman, who came to buy fruits at Karwan Bazar, said, “We have accepted that prices will rise. We had been hearing about price hikes even before Ramadan, and now it has become a reality. There is no point in protesting as ordinary consumers.”
Selim, a resident of Banasree, said fruit prices are now beyond the reach of low- and lower-middle-income people.
“Even if they want to have fruits at iftar, they cannot afford them. It is painful for them. In fact, no effective system works to control the market. Authorities fine traders in the morning, but by the afternoon, things return to the previous situation,” he added.
