The prices of essential commodities, including onion, eggs, pulses, garlic and ginger, have witnessed a notable hike further in the last one week as the holy month of Ramadan is approaching.
Market insiders said the onion price again increased to Tk 90-110 a kg on Saturday from Tk 70-90 while eggs shot up to Tk 145-150 a dozen from Tk 130-140.
The price of chickpea, one of the most consumed pulses in Ramadan, has gone up to Tk 110-130 a kg, marking a Tk-20 hike per kg in a week, according to groceries in different areas of the capital.
Finer lentil was sold at Tk 150-170 per kg, medium Tk 125-130 and coarse at Tk 110-120.
The price of finer mungbean pulse, however, shot up to all-time high of Tk 200 per kg.
Khesari, another pulse that is hugely consumed in Ramadan, has also witnessed a Tk 15-20 hike a kg and it was sold at Tk 100-120 a kg.
Anchar pulse (Australian lupin) that is popular among Bangladeshi restaurants and poor families for its low price has increased to Tk 90-100 a kg from Tk 75-85.
Haider Ali, a grocer at East Rayer Bazar, said prices of many commodities have started to increase in wholesale markets as Ramadan is expected to begin in the second week of March.
He said traders at Moulvibazar in the Old Town have raised prices of chickpea, lentil and all other pulses.
He said wholesale rate of medium quality chickpea surpassed Tk 100 a kg last week.
Ali said mungbean hit a record price both in wholesale and retail markets.
He also said they are retailing finer lentil at Tk 160-170 a kg and mungbean at Tk 190-200 a kg.
Md Abdur Razzaque, a trader of Moulvibazar, said importers are charging 15-20 per cent higher for chickpea, khesari, lentils, sugar, palm oil and other essentials for last one and half weeks following the hikes in their import costs.
He urged the government agencies to conduct monitoring drives in the importing level in Chattogram to keep a check and balance in the market.
Meanwhile, the egg prices continued rising as retailed at Tk 145-150 a dozen on Saturday - a Tk-10 surge in a week and Tk 20 in a month.
The price hike in egg market continued though the Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) fined two of the major players, including Diamond Egg and CP Bangladesh, Tk 25 million and 10 million respectively for their involvement in market irregularities in 2022, according to BCC officials.
Last year, Kazi Farm and Saguna Foods were fined Tk 80 million for their involvement in market manipulation.
However, the garlic price has increased by Tk 40-50 a kg in a week and it was sold at Tk 160-300 a kg on Saturday.
Ginger also followed the rising trend in price as it jumped by Tk 40 a kg in a week and it was retailed at Tk 240-280 per kg.
Among vegetables, brinjal has showed a hike by Tk 20 a kg in a week. The round brinjal was sold at Tk 80-100 and long one at Tk 100-120 a kg.
Besides, the rice prices maintained its previous high as coarse variety was sold at Tk 52-55 a kg, medium at Tk 62-68 and finer at Tk 75-98 in the city markets on Saturday.
tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com