Persistent rainfall and flooding in different parts of the country have triggered a sharp increase in the prices of vegetables, fish, eggs, onions, green chillies and many other daily essentials in the city, putting further pressure on consumers.
A visit to several retail markets, including Mohammadpur Krishi Market, Town Hall, West Dhanmondi and Adabor on Friday morning found that prices of vegetables increased by Tk 20-50 a kg. Green chilli showed
Only papaya and pointed gourd (potol) remained below Tk 80 per kg, retailing at Tk50- 60 a kg.
Brinjal was priced at Tk100-150 per kg, ridge gourd and snake gourd at Tk 80-100, bitter gourd at Tk 120, while cucumber and carrot were selling for Tk 120-140 per kg.
Onion prices also rose sharply. Good-quality onions, which sold for Tk 35-40 per kg only a week ago, were retailing at Tk 60-65 per kg, while medium-quality onions were selling for Tk 55-60 per kg.
Wholesale prices of onion had climbed due to continuous rainfall in major producing districts, including Pabna, Faridpur and Kushtia, said Md Farid, a trader at Mohammadpur Krishi Market in the city.
The price of farm eggs increased to Tk 140 per dozen from Tk 130 a few days earlier.
Broiler chicken prices also rose by around Tk 20 per kg to Tk 190-210, while Sonali chicken was selling for Tk 360-400 per kg--marking Tk 50 hike a kg.
Fish prices also increased following supply disruptions caused by heavy rainfall and flash flood.
Cultured ruhi was sold at Tk 400-500 per kg, up from Tk 400-450 previously. Tilapia and pangas prices increased by Tk 20-30 per kg to Tk 240-280 and Tk 220-260 respectively.
Tiger shrimp and golda shrimp rose by about Tk 100 per kg to Tk 900-1,200, while riverine shrimp was sold at Tk 1500-1600 a kg. Cultured pabda was selling for Tk 450-500 per kg.
Limited supplies of hilsa pushed the price to Tk 1,600-2250 a kg, Tk 200 a kg further hike.
Ziaul Haque, a fish vendor at Town Hall Bazar in Mohammadpur, attributed the latest price surge mainly to supply disruptions caused by continuous rainfall and flooding across several parts of the country.
The Department of Fisheries said fish farms and shrimp enclosures on more than 20,000 hectares of land worth Tk 4.0 billion have been washed away by floodwaters since July 4 in nine districts.
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