The local stocked onion variety witnessed a hike in price again on Saturday as it retailed at Tk 240-250 a kg, further hitting the already battered consumers.
Even buyers had no respite despite availability of the newly harvested seed onion (known as murikata) as it was traded at Tk 180-190 a kg in city markets.
Imported varieties of the kitchen commodity were almost static at Tk 160-210 based on quality.
Traders hinted no chance of a fall in the prices of the spice before the availability of seasonal onion (known as haali) during the January-February period.
The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has recorded a 15-per cent hike again in onion prices on average in the last three days.
"Murikata variety is selling at an all-time high of Tk 145-150 a kg in Jhenidah, Magura, Meherpur, Rajbari, Natore, Pabna, Faridpur and Rajshahi districts," said Shyambazar-based trader Narayan Chandra Saha.
He said the stock of old onion of last season has almost come to an end.
Mr Saha said, "Onion prices have also shot up to Tk 120 a kg in the neighbouring India from where we import one third of our requirements."
So, chance is slim to bring onion from India as it itself is importing the item, he observed.
"Our seasonal haali onion will hit the markets in mid-January. So, scope is scanty for a significant fall in its prices in the next one month in the country."
However, the prices of most vegetables remained higher on the day in question in spite of their maintaining a static trend compared to Friday's.
Seasonal cauliflower and cabbage sold at Tk 40-50 apiece, cucumber at Tk 80-120 a kg, tomato at Tk 100-120, country bean at Tk 60-80, long bean at Tk 70-80, bitter gourd at Tk 80-100, pointed gourd at Tk 60-70, brinjal at Tk 50-60, carrot at Tk 60-70.
Radish and papaya were merely the cheaper vegetables sold at Tk 30-40 a kg.
On the other hand, the newly harvested potato was selling at Tk 60-70 a kg and the stored potato at Tk 30-42 a kg based on varieties.
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