Prices of most of the essential commodities are on the decline for the current rise in supplies compared to that in the shutdown period.
The prices of most essentials including rice, pulses, oil, sugar, ginger, onion and garlic have come down following lifting of the countrywide lockdown of two months, according to Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) price statistics.
After commencement of the lockdown on March 26, most commodity prices shot up at the retail markets in the city due to the crisis of transportation and labour, but huge commodity supplies along with the appearance of different seasonal fruits played a key role in reducing pressure on daily essentials leading to prices becoming normal, said market insiders.
TCB's monthly report on product prices based on Shahjahanpur, Malibagh Bazar, Karwan bazar, Badamtali Bazar, Sutrapur Bazar, Shyambazar, Kachukhet Bazar, Moulvibazar, Mohakhali Bazar, Uttara Azampur Bazar, Rahmatganj Bazar, Rampura and Mirpur-1 markets, showed such a price downtrend.
The veracity of such information was found in various kitchen markets in the capital.
According to a TCB report, the price of Miniket and Nazirshail reduced by 4.20 percent and was selling at Tk 52 to Tk 62 per kilogram (kg). But the price of coarse rice shot up while the price of Paijam and Lota remained stable.
Compared to that in the past month, the price of packet flour reduced by 2.99 percent and was selling at Tk 30 to Tk 35 per kg, but the packet Maida price remained the same. Among the edible oils, Super Palm Oil price dropped the maximum in a month, by 6.45 percent and was selling at Tk 70 to Tk 75 per liter. Price of loose palm oil remained unchanged, while per liter bottled soybean selling at Tk 100 to Tk 105, showed the statistics.
As per TCB report, the price of coarse variety of red lentil was selling at Taka Tk 70 to Tk 75, medium quality lentil, Tk 90 to Tk 100, and high quality lentil, Tk 100 to Tk 120.
During the Ramdan sugar price increased gradually, but now the price reduced by 2.40 percent and was selling at Tk 57 to Tk 65.
Although the price of beef and mutton has come down a little, the price of chicken has gone up. In the last one month, the price of broiler chicken has increased by 14.81 percent and was selling at Tk 150 to 160 per kg. And the price of local chicken increased by 9.52 percent and was selling at Tk 550 to Tk 600 per kg.
On the other hand, prices of all kinds of fish have also gone down, added the report.
