The prices of most of essential commodities, including beef, chicken, egg and fish, still remain high in the capital’s kitchen markets, hitting consumers’ pockets.
However, the prices of almost all vegetables have increased further in the kitchen markets due to supply disruptions.
During visit to some kitchen markets, including Karwan Bazar, Hatirpool Bazar and Ananda Bazar on Friday, this correspondent found that onion, one of the most essential commodities, was sold at Tk 95-100 per kg, up by Tk 5-10 compared to the previous week.
Even though the price of green chilli remained static, the prices of several other commodities are still high. Green chilli was sold at Tk 250 to Tk 300 per kg.
The price of potato increased by Tk 5 to Tk 65 per kg this week compared to the previous week. Like onion, potato and green chilli, the prices of brinjal, bitter gourd, carrot, tomato and cucumber also went up further.
Traders claim that the prices of most vegetables shot up due to supply disruptions in some parts of the country caused by flash flood and torrential rain for the last few days.
Seller Jalil Mia says that the supply of vegetables in the market is low. “Consumers have often argument with traders over the price hikes of vegetables,” he added.
This correspondent found that beans was sold at Tk 60 per kg while ribbed gourd at Tk 50-60, sponge gourd at Tk 60, bitter gourd at Tk 60, ladies finger at Tk 40, snake gourd at Tk 40, pointed gourd at Tk 40, drum stick at Tk 80, spiny gourd at Tk 60, brinjal at Tk 60-80, sweet gourd at Tk 40, and papaya at Tk 30-40 per kg. Four pieces of lemons were sold at Tk 20.
Abul Kalam, shopkeeper at Ananda Bazar, said he was selling different varieties of rice ranging from Tk 55 to 75 per kg, local variety of lentil at Tk 130 while Indian variety at Tk 110 per kg.
Besides, mung dal was available at Tk 130-140 per kg and 5-litre soybean oil bottle at Tk 818.
Although the price of eggs decreased slightly, it remained still high. The price of chicken also dropped slightly from the last week. Broiler chicken was sold at Tk 190 per kg while Pakistani chicken at Tk 340. Besides, beef was sold at Tk 800 per kg.
Najma Begum, a buyer, told Bangladesh Post at Hatirpool Bazar that price control is not possible without strict market monitoring. She urged the government to strictly monitor the market.
Prices of different varieties of fish also remained high in the market last week. Ruhi and katla fish were sold at Tk 350-400 per kg while pangas at Tk 230, silver carp at Tk 220, tilapia at Tk 260, and puti at Tk 250 per kg.
