RANGPUR, May 25: Prices of some essential commodities, particularly vegetables and eggs, have marked a sharp rise across various kitchen markets in Rangpur district in the past one week, exacerbating the plight of the populace.
Low-and middle-income people are mostly bearing the brunt of
the price escalation.
Traders attributed the price spiral to a severe supply shortfall due to massive damage caused by torrential rainfall that waterlogged vegetable fields extensively across the district in recent weeks.
Consequently, reduced yields have driven vegetable prices sharply upward.
Consumers, however, have put the blame on the traders for the soaring prices of vegetables.
During visit to various kitchen markets, this FE correspondent observed that prices of essentials have continued to escalate.
At present, teasel gourd is selling for Tk80 per kg, up from Tk 60 a week ago; bitter gourd is being sold at Tk80 a kg, compared to Tk50-60 previously; pointed gourd is available at Tk 60 a kg, up from its previous price of Tk40; price of per kg yard long bean has risen to Tk60-70 from Tk40; eggplant and okra are both selling for Tk 60 to 70 per kg, instead of their previous prices of Tk 40-50; while one kg papaya is also being sold for Tk60, up from Tk30-40.
Besides, a piece of bottle gourd costs around Tk 60; ridge gourd sells at Tk 60 per kg, and cucumber is selling for Tk 60-80 a kg, all of which have seen significant price hikes from a week ago.
Talking to The Financial Express, a number of the customers expressed their disappointment, saying that their sufferings know no bounds owing to the abnormal price hike of essential commodities.
Furthermore, the prices of green chillies, ginger, and onion have soared as well.
They added that papaya, which is usually considered a cheap vegetable, is now also being sold at exorbitant prices.
Green chillies are being sold at Tk 140-150 per kg. Meanwhile, locally produced onions are available at Tk 50-55 per kg, up from Tk 30-35 earlier. Similarly, ginger is selling for Tk 200-220 per kg, compared to its previous price of Tk 120-140.
Mohsin, a vegetable trader at Kamakachna Bazar in Rangpur city, told The Financial Express that continuous downpour in recent days is severely disrupting vegetable collection from fields. He said when water accumulates in the fields, supply falls and prices soar sharply.
He further stated that prolonged rainfall over the past couple of weeks caused many vegetable fields to perish, resulting in a drastic decline in yield.
Besides, price hike of eggs has added to the woes of lower and middle-income people as they mostly depend on the cheaper-protein source rather than fish and meat.
Expressing dissatisfaction, a number of consumers alleged that the prices of eggs began to go up after Ramadan and has been soaring gradually since then.
In local kitchen markets, a dozen eggs are being sold for Tk 150 to 156, up from the previous price of Tk 120 to 135. In this situation, consumers emphasised the need for strict market monitoring to control the price spike of essentials.
sayedmofidulbabu@gmail.com
