When it comes to vegetables, the general rule is that you pay less in winter than in summer. But this season, the drop in mercury has failed to cool off the prices of essentials in the kitchen markets of the capital.
The escalated prices have hit home budgets in Dhaka, prompting residents to hold the government responsible for the “mismanagement” in the kitchen markets. They allege that traders at the big veggie markets in the city are fixing prices. Trades, however, attribute the surge in prices of essential commodities to short supply amid the Covid pandemic.
A reality check by UNB at Kaptan Bazar, Anondobazar, Jatrabari, Mogbazar and Sarulia Bazar on Tuesday revealed that traders have been selling Aubergine for Tk 70-90 a kg, papaya for Tk 35-40, bitter gourd for Tk 80-90, bottle gourd for Tk 50-70, beans for Tk 100-120, radish for Tk 60-70 , cucumber for Tk 80 and tomato for Tk120.
Besides, the price of a kg of green chili has soared to Tk 200-240. Similarly, carrots cost Tk 80-100 a kg, four pieces of green banana Tk40-50 and four pieces of eggs Tk40-60. The prices of cauliflower and cabbage, two most popular winter vegetables, have also soared. Similarly, a kg of beef now costs Tk 550-560, mutton Tk 750-900, broiler chicken Tk 130-140 and locally bred hens Tk 450-500.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data, on November 9, the prices of coarse, medium and fine rice increased by 36.76, 15.56, and 12.87 percent, respectively, as compared to last winter.
The prices of coarse rice have increased to Tk45-48 a kilo from Tk28-40, medium to Tk48-56 a kilo from Tk 42-48 and fine rice Tk54-60 a kilo from Tk45-56, compared to 2019. Besides, each kg of palm oil has increased by 36.30 percent from Tk65-70 and soybean oil has risen by 19.88 percent from Tk76-85 year-on-year, as per the data.
The state-run organisation’s data further showed that the price of each kg of lentil has increased by 35.71 percent while potato prices have gone up by 77.08 percent as compared to the corresponding period last year. Sugar prices have increased by 7.76 percent and hilsa fish by 21.43 percent year-on-year.
Al-Amin Siam, a resident of Demra, said the prices of each essential have gone up abnormally in the city. “Though it’s winter, the prices of all vegetables are double compared to other years. We have to purchase a cluster of red spinach at Tk20-30, taro stem at Tk30, water amaranth at Tk20-25, Indian spinach and stem amaranth at Tk30-40,” he said.
Amina Begum, a resident of Bangshal, said they are going through a difficult time due to the increasing vegetable prices amid the Covid-induced financial crisis.
“We can’t purchase vegetables and other essentials in plenty due to the price hike. The government should control the market by strengthening the monitoring systems. Besides, farmers should be encouraged to cultivate more products and the government must support them financially,” she said.UNB
