FE REPORT
Fish prices increased further last week during peak monsoon, putting a strain on the pockets of consumers who are already down with costly commodities.
Despite a stable yet high price range for other items like egg, onion, potato and vegetable, fish price have escalated sharply.
On Friday, green chilli retailed at Tk 260-300, onion at Tk 95-105, potato at Tk 70-75 a kg and eggs at Tk 165-170 a dozen.
In stark contrast, fish prices have surged by Tk 20-200 a kg, depending on the species and quality.
Notably, indigenous varieties such as ruhi, katla, shoal, boal, hilsa and shrimp have seen an increase of Tk 150-200 a kg over the past week.
Even though the supply of hilsa has risen, small-sized fish sold at Tk 1,000-1,200 a kg, medium-sized at Tk 1,400-1,500 and large-sized at Tk 1,800-2,250.
The price of riverine ruhi has shot up to Tk 600-1,050 per kg, depending on its size.
Similarly, cultured varieties like ruhi, katla, tilapia, koi and pangas have registered a price hike of Tk 20-30 a kg during the period in question.
While visiting Rayerbazar, Mohammadpur Agricultural Market and New Market Banalata Bazar on Friday, both vendors and consumers expressed their concerns.
According to Lokman Hakim, a fish seller in Rayerbazar area, water levels in rivers have risen enough to catch more fish.
"But the ban on hilsa fishing, which will continue for another one month, has contributed to the price surge in riverine fish," he told the FE.
Kamal Hossain, a Karwanbazar-based fish vendor, reported that the prices of cultured fish also rose by Tk 20 per kg in wholesale markets like Sirajganj, Natore and Trishal of Mymensingh.
About vegetables, Mohammadpur grocer Farid Uddin said they were buying potato at Tk 60 and onion at Tk 90 per kg from Karwanbazar and Shyambazar wholesalers, with prices increasing weekly.
He attributed the paucity of potato to a significant drop in production this year, affecting supplies from major hubs like Rajshahi, Rangpur, Bogura and Munshiganj.
Eid-ul-Azha and its immediate aftermath have also kept green chili prices high.
Although the price has dropped slightly from Tk 320-400 per kg during Eid sales to Tk 260-300 now, it remains steep due to monsoon and a halt in imports from India.
Meanwhile, most vegetables continue to sell at high prices, with none below Tk 60 a kg.
Vegetables like pointed gourd, bhindi and green papaya sold at Tk 60 a kg. On the other hand, long-yard bean, teasel gourd and eddo retailed at Tk 80-90 a kg.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan said even bitter gourds and eggplants were selling at Tk 100-120 a kg, making it difficult for commoners to consume vegetables.
As commodity prices continued to surge, the struggle for daily sustenance has become increasingly challenging for common people, particularly the economically disadvantaged, he said.
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