Rising prices of vegetables are shrinking the kitchen budget of the common people as vegetables continue to be costlier compared to that of the previous couple of weeks.
Consumers grouse that they have been hit hard as most of the items are being sold at over Tk 100 per kilogram in the kitchen market.
Even, the green chili is being sold at Tk 400 per kg.
Traders said that this situation is not only prevailing in Dhaka alone rather the price of vegetables at grower level is also high.
They claim that shortfall in supply due to the continuous rainfall and flooding in several districts contributes to the unusual hike in the price of vegetables.
Visiting different kitchen markets on Friday, it was seen that only four items including papaya, ladies finger and radish were sold below TK 100 per kg.
Papaya was sold at Tk 60 while ladies finger, radish and pointed gourd were sold between Tk 60 and Tk 80 a kg.
Most of the vegetables including brinjal, ‘Borbati’, a kind of kidney bean, Jhinga, Chichinga were sold between Tk 100 and Tk 140 per kg.
Traders said that the prices of these items were increased by Tk 10 to 20 in comparison to that of previous week. Bangladesh Wholesale
perishable Goods Traders Association president Imran Master told reporters that damage to vegetable production due to the prolonged rain and flooding has affected the prices.
“Some areas of the Northern region are still experiencing the flooding. A vast swathe of vegetable farms has been destroyed, resulting in the shortfall in supply,” he said.
In the circumstances, two market monitoring teams under the Ministry of Commerce on Friday fined several business establishments Tk 4,500 during separate drives in the city.
A team led by senior assistant secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Fuara Khatun conducted a drive at Mirpur Shah Ali City Corporation Market Kitchen Bazar and fined several traders Tk 1,500 for not hanging the price lists properly and other irregularities, said a press release.
Another team conducted a drive at Shonir Akhra Kitchen Market and checked the buying and selling prices of different essential products.
The team then fined several traders Tk 3,000 for various irregularities.
The prices of eggs and onion have decreased slightly, according to the inspection team.
Both teams also asked the traders to display, update and maintain accurate price lists of essentials, including chicken, rice, potato, and onion.
