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Prices of essentials skyrocket


Published : 28 Mar 2020 08:51 PM | Updated : 05 Sep 2020 10:11 PM

Despite the satisfactory reserve of food grains in the city, prices of daily essentials have skyrocketed beyond the capacity of lower income people after countrywide lockdown caused by coronavirus. The prices of essentials especially vegetables on Saturday shot up by Tk 10-15 per kg in the city’s kitchen markets compared to the last week’s prices.

The prices of different varieties of rice increased slightly on the day compared to the last week’s price. Besides, onion and garlic prices remained unchanged this week compared to the last week. Visiting the city's different kitchen markets at Karwan Bazar, New Market, Hatirpool, Mohammadpur, Mirpur and Kalyanpur on Saturday, this correspondent found that bitter gourd was being retailed for Tk 100-110 per kg while it was sold at Tk 80-100 per kg last week. Gourd was being sold at Tk 70 per kg while it was sold at Tk 50-60 per kg last week.

Green chili was sold at Tk 110-120 per kg on the day while it was sold at Tk 90-100 per kg last week. Bean was being sold at Tk 60-70 per kg while it was sold at Tk 50-60 per kg last week. Tomato was being sold at Tk 70-80 per kg while it was sold at Tk 50-60 per kg last week at the city's kitchen markets.

Vegetable vendors were selling Brinjal at Tk 80-100 per kg while it was sold at Tk 70-80 per kg last week. Cucumber was being sold at Tk 60-70 per kg while it was sold at Tk 50-60 per kg last week. Ladies finger was selling at Tk 80-85 per kg while it was sold at Tk 60-70 per kg last week.

A vegetable vendor, Mohiuddin said due to lockdown the supply of vegetables has reduced as wholesalers have increased the vegetables price. “I have bought vegetables at higher prices. There is no shortage of supply,” he added. Sellers at the kitchen markets told The Bangladesh Post there is no shortage of essentials at both wholesale and retail markets, but consumers’ presence is very low after imposing shutdown regarding fear of coronavirus outbreak.

Visiting some kitchen markets in the capital, this correspondent found that the sellers were spending time chatting with each other as very few customers were visiting their shops. However, the price of beef hiked to Tk600 per kg from Tk550-570 on Saturday.  A beef vendor, Ajmol Hussain, told this correspondent, “The cost of bringing a cow to the shop and its processing has increased. So, we had to raise the price.”

In rice retail markets, Miniket rice was selling at Tk58-60 per kg which was Tk 55-58 a kilo last week. BR 28 was selling at Tk46-50 a kg on Saturday while it was sold at Tk 45-48 per kg last week. Fine variety of Najirshail was retailing at Tk 65-75 a kg, which was Tk60-65 a kg last week.

Onion (local) was being sold at Tk 75-80 per kg on Saturday while it was sold at the same price last week. Garlic (local) was being sold at Tk 120-130 per kg. Garlic (imported) was being sold at Tk 180-190 per kg. Potato was being sold at Tk 25-28 per kg on Saturday while it was sold at the same price last week.

On Saturday, price of tangra fish was at Tk350-550 per kg, pabda fish Tk400-480 per kg, small and medium-size shrimp Tk450-600 per kg, koi fish Tk150-200 per kg, medium-size rui fish Tk320-350, and mala fish Tk400-500 per kg. However, the price of eggs has dropped from Tk120 to Tk90-100 per dozen in the kitchen market as there was adequate supply of goods.

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) President Ghulam Rahman said, “There are some reasons which increase the prices of commodities. Among them, lack of supply against demand and artificial crisis are two major factors. The government should have strict surveillance so that none can take any advantage of the situation.”