The prices of most essentials in the grocery markets across the country have gone up in the last one week and there are speculations that prices of other daily essentials would also go up.
Market surveys show that prices of rice and lentils have gone up again this week. The price of common edible oil is likely to go up this week as well. Prices of broiler chicken, flour and some other products are also being sold at higher prices.
Visiting some kitchen markets in the city on Friday, including Karwan Bazar, Rampura, Khilgaon, Santinagar, Motijheel those price hikes were found to be genuine.
According to retailers they are selling Nazirshail rice at Tk 75 to Tk 80 per kg which was sold at Tk 65 to Tk 75 per kg 10 days ago. Miniket rice is being sold at Tk 62 to Tk 65 per kg with an increase of Tk 5 per kg on average. It was available at Tk 56 to Tk 60 a few days ago.
Apart from this, the price of Swarna and BR-28 national rice (coarse rice) has also increased by Tk 4 per kg on average. This quality rice is being sold at Tk 48 to Tk 52 per kg. Although such quality of rice, which is in high demand, was available at Tk 45 to Tk 48 a week ago.
Rampura Bazar rice trader Halim said, “As rice import has been cancelled, it is affecting rice prices. However, after completing the aman rice harvesting, the price may go down.”
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On the other hand, lentil price is trading at a higher price. Compared to last week, the price has increased by at least Tk 10 per kg. Now it is being sold at Tk 95 to Tk 100 and locally produced lentil is sold at Tk 115 to Tk 120.
Local retailers informed that some importers are creating a monopoly in the market which is behind such price hikes.
At present soybean oil per litre is sold at Tk 160. Traders want to increase the price to Tk 168. But the authority concerned did not pay heed to their demand. However, following the commerce ministry meeting on Thursday, it was informed price is not increasing at this time.
Meanwhile, broiler chickens are being sold at Tk 195 to Tk 200 per kg, up from Tk 185 to Tk 195 last week. The price of Sonali chicken, which was Tk 300 to Tk 340 per kg last week, has come down to Tk 260 to Tk 280 per kg.
Traders informed that the price of chicken was high last week, especially the price of broiler chickens skyrocketed due to low supply. As the supply of chicken is increasing, price is also coming down.
Per piece of cauliflower is sold at Tk 50 on average, beans are being sold at Tk 40 to Tk 50 per kg, new potatoes are being sold at Tk 20 per kg, tomatoes are being sold at Tk 40 to Tk 60 per kg, carrots at Tk 30 to Tk 40 per kg, a kilo of string bean is being sold at Tk 50 to Tk 70, radish is being sold at Tk 30 to Tk 40 per kg and turnip (whole copy) at Tk 30 to Tk 40 per kg.