On the second day of the shutdown, different kitchen markets in the capital were full of commodities, but prices of vegetable, edible oil, onion and chicken were a little high.
The scenario surfaced on Friday at Rampura, Khilgaon, Shantinagar, Karwan Bazar and other kitchen markets. Traders said, as customers brought additional products amid lockdown, supply of some essential products was disrupted causing price increase.
However, the edible oil association's oil price reduction decision is yet to be reflected in those markets. Traders are saying they have heard of price reduction, but due to the shutdown they could not purchase oil at a reduced rate from the wholesale market.
The Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners & Vanaspati Manufacturers Association, an organization of edible oil refiners and marketers, announced a reduction in the price of soybean oil by Tk 4 per liter on Wednesday. However, buyers had to buy soybean oil at the previous price.
Meanwhile, the ginger that rose last week is being sold at a higher price. Imported ginger is being sold at Tk 160 to Tk 180 per kg. And local ginger is being sold at Tk 120 to Tk 130 per kg.
With this, all kinds of vegetables are being sold at high prices. The price of brinjal has gone up a bit during the week and is being sold at Tk 50 to Tk 60 per kg, which was between Tk 40-60 last week.
Ripe tomatoes, which were sold at Tk 80 to Tk 100 per kg last week, are being sold at Tk 100 to Tk 120 per kg. Carrots are also on the list of price hikes. In the markets where carrots were Tk 80 per kg last week, they are now being sold at Tk 100 per kg. However, the prices of string beans, okra, Parwal, and snake gourd remain unchanged. As before, string beans were sold at Tk 60 to Tk 70 per kg, okra at Tk 40 to Tk 50 per kg, parwal at Tk 40 to Tk 50 per kg.
Prices of broiler, Pakistani cock and red layer chicken remained unchanged during the week. Broiler chickens are being sold at Tk 140 to Tk 150 per kg. Red layer chicken is being sold at Tk 230 to Tk 240 per kg. And Shonali chicken is being sold at Tk 200 to Tk 230 per kg.
Besides chicken, prices of beef and mutton remain unchanged. Beef is being sold at Tk 580 to Tk 600 per kg. And Tk 600 to Tk 900 per kg is mutton.
Along with this, potatoes, eggs and onions prices are slightly higher. Potatoes are being sold at Tk 25 to Tk 27 per kg. And a dozen chicken eggs from the farm are being sold at Tk 105 to Tk 110. Local onions are being sold at Tk 45 to Tk 50 per kg.
