Prices of essential food items have soared ahead of the Muslim fasting month of holy Ramadan in Sylhet, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, and Gopalganj.
Our correspondent from Sylhet notes, despite good yield and supply, the price of vegetables in the retail markets are high and sources said the key reason has been middlemen forming a syndicate and controlling the prices ahead of Ramadan.
A number of vendors, including Monwar Hossain of Sylhet city's wholesale market at Sobhanighat, said although there has been a good supply of various vegetables, it did not affect the retail market. Cauliflower is being sold at Tk 50, ocra at Tk 120, potato (old) at Tk 30, and potato (new) at Tk 40.
Moreover, small size pumpkin sells at Tk 50, bean at Tk 50, tomatoes at Tk 50-60. The green chilli was being retailed at Tk 300 per kg, while four pieces of lemon reached a whopping Tk 200.
Poor and marginal buyers are unhappy with the prices, which are expected to continue to rise as Ramadan begins.
Fresh and quality vegetables had been available on the markets with good prices at the start of the Rabi season, said Monir Uddin of Sylhet Sadar Upazila. The total area of cultivation was increased in the season, with winter vegetables covering a total of 80,669 hectares in the Sylhet division, according to Department of Agricultural Extension, Sylhet.
Our correspondent from Rangpur writes, people in the low and middle-income groups have been in immense suffering owing to the abnormal price hike of the essential items ahead of Ramadan. Particularly, vegetable prices have soared in the kitchen markets.
Traders however, attributed the situation to scanty supply of some essential vegetables in comparison with higher demands in the past several days.
On the other hand, consumers alleged that a section of unscrupulous and profit-hungry traders have increased the prices of the essential items despite adequate supply.
Visiting some kitchen markets in Rangpur city, the FE found prices of vegetables has increased from what it was a several days ago.
Per kg of brinjal has been selling at Tk 80 to Tk 120, which was Tk 40-50; each kilogram of
cucumber is being retailed at Tk 80-140, from its previous price of Tk 40-60. Lemon jumped to Tk 150 -180 per dozen, from Tk 75-90 a dozen.
Nayeem, a vegetable seller at Rangpur City Bazar, said inadequate supply in the off-season has triggered the price hike.
Meanwhile, bitter gourd has rose to Tk 80-120 a kg from Tk 40 to 60 per kg. Per piece of bottle gourd is being sold at Tk 50 -70 from Tk 30 to 35. Current price of per kg of cauliflower is at Tk 50-60. A kg of carrot is
being sold at Tk 50-60, while it was available at Tk 30-40 per kg. Tomato is being sold at Tk 60-80 per kg.
Besides, price hike of green chilli, onion, ginger and garlic is also causing untold sufferings to common consumers.
Our correspondent from Lalmonirhat reports, the prices of all essential items and vegetables such as brinjal, onion, garlic, ginger, green chillies, lemon, cucumber rose in the last few days. Especially, the items that are essential for Iftar.
Retail vendors at different kitchen market said Tk 20-30 has risen on every essential items ahead of Ramadan.
Aminul Islam a retail vendor of a local kitchen market said that the prices of all the vegetables are
being sold at a higher price than last week. Per kg of brinjal is being sold at Tk 70, which was Tk 40; bitter gourd is priced at Tk 200; potato is being sold at Tk 25-35 a kg; onion is at Tk 60 per kg, which was Tk 45; garlic is being sold at Tk 140 a kg, which was Tk 100;
ginger is at Tk 150 kg, which was Tk 120; green chilli is priced at Tk 160 a kg, which was 100; and cucumber is selling at Tk 60 per kg. Lemon per piece has been selling at Tk 20. Various dates are being sold at Tk 500-1600 in different local markets. Broiler is selling at Tk 550 per kg, while sonali chicken is at Tk 320 per kg, which was Tk 520 and Tk 300 a few days ago. Only price of egg is lower than it was a few days ago. Price of suger,edible oil and chickpeas is remain stable.
Our correspondent from Gopalganj reports, low income groups of landless peasants, labourers and rickshaw pullers are the worst sufferers of the price hike as Ramadan approaches. Locals say that the reason of the price hike is unknown.
Visiting various markets on Saturday, it was found that price of all kinds of vegetables, including brinjal, cucumbers, bitter gourd, carrot, green chilies, ladies finger, and gourd, have risen within a week.
A kg of brinjal was selling at Tk 50-60, which was Tk 35-40 earlier. Per kilogram of cucumber was selling at Tk 80-90, which was Tk 30-40.
Per kilogram of green chili is being retailed at Tk150 to Tk 160, which was Tk 90-100 earlier. A kilogram of ladies finger was selling at Tk 110-120, which was Tk 70-80.
A piece (medium size) of gourd was selling at Tk 50-60, which was Tk35-40. Per kilogram of carrot was selling at Tk 55-60, which was Tk 35-40. A kilogram of cabbage was selling at Tk 35-40, which was Tk 15 to Tk 20.
A kilogram of Rui fish (medium size) was selling at Tk 450-500, which was Tk 300-350. A kilogram of koi (medium size) was selling at
Tk 250-260, which was Tk 180-200. Per kilogram of shing
fish (medium size) was selling at Tk 500-550, which was Tk 350-400 earlier. Other fishes (small size) were selling at Tk 450-500 per kg.
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