Even though the prices of vegetables have started coming down in the city’s kitchen markets, their prices still remain high hitting consumers’ pockets.
A section of dishonest businessmen and traders are charging extra. They claim that transport crisis has caused the short supply amid the ongoing curfew.
However, the authorities concerned have claimed that they are trying their best to keep the supply chain normal. They have also admitted that unscrupulous traders are creating artificial crisis and raising the prices of essentials.
However, the prices of most of vegetables fell by Tk 20-Tk 50 per kg on Tuesday.
The price of bitter gourd dropped to Tk 140 per kg from Tk 180 while the price of okra came down to Tk 80 to Tk 100 per kg from Tk 120.
Eggplant price declined to Tk 150 per kg from Tk 200 and potato price dropped by Tk 20 to Tk 60 per kg. Cucumber price fell slightly and it was being sold at Tk 70 to Tk 80 per kg.
Green chili, sold at Tk 800 per kilogram (kg) earlier, was selling at Tk 240 to Tk 300 per kg on Monday. The prices of other vegetables were also coming down gradually.
Egg price declined to Tk 160 per dozen on Tuesday from Tk 180 earlier.
Prices of essentials are decreasing as the government has taken steps to increase the supply of essential commodities across the country amid the violence over quota protests and ongoing curfew. Due to the anti-quota movement, the
supply chain has broken down which has not only increased the prices of essentials but also the sufferings of mass people.
In this given situation, the government has directed deputy commissioners (DCs) to keep the supply of essentials normal.
Mentioning that the overall supply chain situation is being monitored from the Prime Minister’s Office, State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu said, “With the help of ‘Special Squad’ of Police, imported products are being sent to different parts of the country, including the capital city, after releasing them from land or river ports.”
The government has kept emergency goods and services out of the purview of curfew, he added.
It was learnt that the authorities concerned have cancelled public holidays for the officials who are engaged in supply chain management.
To this end, special units of Bangladesh Bank, Customs Department of National Board of Revenue, land and river ports are working continuously. Besides, divisional and deputy commissioners were asked to increase the supply of essentials.
Due to the volatile situation, prices of few products have gone up. But the Commerce Ministry has said that there is no chance to increase the prices of green chili, onion and other products as import of these essentials is continuing smoothly.
In this regard, the state minister for commerce said that in the last couple of days, 150 trucks of onion, 58 trucks of green chili, few trucks of tomato and ginger were imported from India. “As most of these products have entered Dhaka city, there is no chance to hike the prices of these essentials.”
As the supply chain has been disrupted, essentials’ prices have shot up. Due to the curfew and internet outage, businessmen have to cancel their regular operation. Perishable goods, stranded in the middle of roads, have already been rotten.
In this situation, the country’s biggest two wholesale markets-- Moulvibazar in Dhaka and Khatunganj in Chattogram, cannot supply products as per the demand.
Commerce Secretary Mohammad Selim Uddin said, “We are working to increase the supply of essentials in the market. We have also requested the home ministry to take necessary steps so that goods-laden trucks can run smoothly.”
Based on import statistics, he further said that there is no shortage of supply.
