The prices of most essential commodities, including foodstuff like green chili, vegetables and spices, have gone up in the capital’s kitchen markets. This is likely due to a rise in demand ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, in spite of countrywide floods and the coronavirus pandemic.
A visit to several kitchen markets in Dhaka on Saturday, showed a kilogram of green chili selling for Tk180-200, which sold on Thursday for Tk160 per kg.
Most vegetable prices went up by at least Tk10-30 a kilogram over the last week, while the price of spices also went up 10-20%.
Traders blamed supply shortages for the price hikes caused by the floods in the northern region of the country, as well as the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
Consumers, however, refuse to accept such explanations.
They say unscrupulous traders routinely take disproportionate advantage of the rise in demand.
But Manik Molla, a retailer from Modhubagh Bazar, said the rain and floods have affected the kitchen market badly.
Due to the floods a lot of farmland got damaged in different parts of the country. Supply channels have been disrupted, so the prices of vegetables and spices have gone up, he added.
Shafi Muhammad of Magbazar said: “Prices always fluctuate because of weak market monitoring by the authorities. Traders increase prices irrationally for silly reasons."
Prices
Tomato sold for Tk80-100 a kg on Saturday, and brinjal was retailing for Tk60-80 per kg, papaya was Tk40/kg, cucumber sold for Tk40-50 a kilo, and bitter gourd was going for Tk60-80 a kilo.
The price of mint leaf rose to Tk500 a kg from an earlier price of Tk200 a kg.
The local variety of onions sold at Tk40-45 per kg, up from Tk35-45, while the imported variety of onions increased to Tk30-35 a kg.
Clove was retailing at Tk700-1000 a kg which was Tk700-900 a kg, and cinnamon was retailing at Tk460-500 a kg on the day.
The price of turmeric soared by Tk40 a kg and was retailing at Tk120-220 a kg.
Although the price of garlic went down a little, the price of ginger went up by Tk30 a kg and was retailing for Tk100-180 a kg, red chili increased to Tk180-260 from Tk180-250.
The price of bottled soybean oil increased by Tk5 to Tk100 a litre, while palm oil jumped to Tk72 from Tk64.
The price of Dano powder milk increased by Tk10 and retailed at Tk600-630 a kg, while unpackaged flour sold at Tk42 a kg, Miniket rice for Tk42 a kg, up by Tk2 per kg.
Medium-quality red lentil cost Tk95-100 a kg on Saturday while the coarse variety cost Tk70-75 a kg. The fine variety of red lentils sold for Tk 120-125 a kg.
The price of eggs went up by Tk2 for four, which sold for Tk32-38.
