Vegetable prices fall, other essentials remain stable

FE REPORT | Published: June 13, 2026 23:24:34

Prices of vegetables declined over the past week, offering some relief to consumers, while that of most other essential commodities remained largely unchanged.
Prices of meat, fish, eggs, poultry, rice, flour and other daily necessities stayed stable, indicating that the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2026-27 has yet to make any noticeable impact on the market following its presentation in Parliament on Thursday.
To ease consumers' burden, the finance minister has proposed reducing advance tax at source to 0.5 per cent on at least 60 essential commodities, including paddy, rice, wheat, potatoes, poultry, fish, onions, garlic, ginger, salt, sugar and edible oil.
Although the proposal has created scope for further price reductions, its impact is yet to be reflected at the retail level.
A visit to several markets in the capital on Saturday found that prices of fish, meat, eggs and grocery items remained largely unchanged. In some cases, prices were slightly lower than those before Eid-ul-Azha.
Most vegetables recorded a decline of Tk 10-20 per kilogramme. Teasel gourd, brinjal, bitter gourd, yard-long bean, ridge gourd and snake gourd were selling at Tk 60-80 per kg.
Papaya was selling at Tk 40-50 per kg, okra at Tk 50-60 per kg and pointed gourd at Tk 60-80 per kg.
Broiler chicken was selling at Tk 160-180 per kg, slightly lower than before Eid, while Sonali chicken was priced at Tk 340-360 per kg.
Egg prices also remained stable, with farm eggs selling at Tk 130-140 per dozen.
Meanwhile, onions were selling at Tk 40-50 per kg. Locally produced garlic was priced at Tk 80-100 per kg, while imported garlic was selling at Tk 140-160 per kg. Ginger was available at Tk 140-180 per kg and potatoes at Tk 25-30 per kg.
Commenting on the likely impact of the tax reductions, Sirajul Islam, a grocer at Katasur in Mohammadpur, said that although traders had heard about the tax cuts proposed in the budget, their effect would largely depend on importers and wholesalers.
"We are still selling products purchased at previous prices. However, the positive aspect this year is that no commodity prices have increased following the budget announcement. If wholesale prices fall, we will also be able to sell at lower rates," he said.
Consumer rights advocates urged the government to ensure that the benefits of lower taxes on the 60 essential products are quickly passed on to consumers.
HumayunKabirBhuiyan, secretary of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), called for stronger market monitoring to prevent any unjustified price increases and ensure that consumers receive the intended benefits of the tax cuts.
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