Both consumers and farmers have been hit hard by the ongoing blockade following a big gap in the prices of the agri produce at the growers and the consumers' ends.
Due to transport disruption, prices of many agricultural commodities declined drastically at farmers' level which have increased significantly at city kitchen markets recently compared to those of the pre-blockade period, farmers and city traders said.
Transportation from rural areas to Dhaka and other metropolises through trucks and pickups has plunged nearly 80 per cent while fares of vehicles also increased by 100 per cent which is blamed for the hike, according to traders at different city markets.
President of Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van Owners Association Md Tofazzal Hossain said they were afraid of running their vehicles on highways during the ongoing blockade.
He said owners do not have enough courage to run their vehicles because of increasing attacks on transports like buses, trucks, pickups and covered-vans on the highways.
Due to stoppage of orders from big cities for lack of transports, the prices of vegetables, egg and poultry meat have declined by 40-200 per cent at farmers' level over the last 16 days which, on the contrary, has caused price rise by Tk 40-100 per cent at kitchen markets in Dhaka, Chittagong, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Savar.
Vegetable prices increased by Tk 3-15 per kg or per piece or per bunch in last two and a half weeks in Dhaka and Chittagong, according to the Department of Agriculture Marketing (DAM).
Cauliflower price was Tk 8-10 per piece (medium sized) in pre-blockade period which increased to Tk 18-25 per piece recently in Dhaka and Chittagong.
Different varieties of local bean which sold at Tk 20-30 per kg now sells at Tk 30-50 per kg, Anisur Rahman, a vegetable trader at Banalata Kitchen Market under Newmarket area said.
He said supply of many vegetables from adjacent districts to Dhaka city is almost normal but the carrying cost has increased nearly by 100 per cent.
Prices of lentil, the most consumed pulse item, increased by Tk 10-24 per kg in last one and a half weeks in Dhaka city and its adjacent towns.
Prices of poultry bird, beef, mutton and fish increased by Tk 20-100 per kg or per piece, DAM data showed.
Beef price increased by Tk 20-30 per kg and sold at Tk 320-330 per kg which was Tk 290-300 per kg in pre-blockade period.
Robiul Alam, secretary general of Bangladesh Meat Traders Association, said supply of cow, buffalo, goat, and sheep has reduced significantly due to halt in transportation.
He said traders with Indian cow from northern and southern border areas can't enter the city which has caused hike in animal prices.
Bangladesh Fish Traders Association president Golam Mortaza Montu said prices of a few varieties of fish increased which are being transported through highways.
He said prices of sea fish and a few varieties of farm fish increased as their transportation depend on highways for reaching Dhaka and other cities.
"Truck fare has also increased nearly by 100 per cent which has put both the traders and consumers in dire straits," he said.
However, when the prices are increasing in city markets, the scenario is totally different at the farmers' end.
Potato is being sold at Tk 3.5 to 4.5 per kg in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions which was Tk 9-10 per kg in pre-blockade period, DAM data showed.
Prices of cauliflower, cabbage, bean, tomato, radish, onion plant, onion, pulse plants, leaf vegetables, sweat potato and carrot reduced by Tk 2-20 per kg or per piece.
Motaher Hossain, a farmer at Gobindaganj upazila in Gaibandha district, told the FE that he sold 500 pieces of cauliflower at only Tk 2-2.5 per piece on Tuesday.
He said farmers were selling cauliflower much below the production cost which is not less than Tk 8-10 per piece (medium size).
Only a few 'paikers' (middlemen in rural areas) were present at the markets as vehicle movement has been stopped from the beginning of this month.
He said local bean is being sold at Tk 6-8 per kg now which was Tk 16-18 per kg before blockade period.
Joint secretary of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association Khandoker Mohosin said prices of poultry birds (broiler) reduced by Tk 30-40 per kg and egg by Tk 90-100 per hundred pieces in last seven days.
The condition will be worse in a few days if the blockade continues, he said.
Secretary of Bangladesh Bhumiheen Krishok Samity, Subal Sarker said farmers are forced to sell the products at throw-away prices as they need money for Boro cultivation.
He said prices of Boro inputs including fertiliser, seed, and diesel have increased significantly this season which should be compensated by providing farmers with cash subsidy.
The country's transportation and economic activities have severely been affected by the ongoing blockade enforced by BNP-led 20-party alliance from January 6.
tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com
Both consumers, farmers hit hard by blockade
FE Report | Published: January 22, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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