Chickpeas, edible oil, sugar get pricier

Prices of chickpeas, edible oil, and sugar increased in the last week for no plausible reasons.
Prices of the aforesaid items remained high over the past few weeks though the holy month of Ramadan when consumption of these items go up is weeks away, trading sources said.
Chickpeas were selling between Tk 100 and Tk 130 per kg depending on their quality. A week ago, they were being sold between Tk 90 and Tk 110 per kg.
Grocer Enamul Hoque at Adabar in the city said wholesalers raised chickpea prices, even though there is no short supply of the item.
He said sugar prices also went up. Packaged sugar was Tk 100-105 per kg and was available just a month ago. "The companies have also decreased the supply of packaged sugar," he said.
He said the price of loose sugar, which was between Tk 100-105 per kg a week ago, rose to Tk 110-115 per kg last week.
Meanwhile, local onion prices continued to fall due to the arrival of increased volume of local harvests in the market. Local varieties of onions were selling between Tk 50 and Tk 55 per kg at the retail levels.
Chicken prices rose by Tk 10-15 per kg. Broiler chicken was sold at Tk 175-185 per kg and Sonali/Pakistani chicken at Tk 290-310 per kg on Friday.
However, egg prices maintained their lower rates at Tk 110-115 per dozen.
Prices of winter vegetables, which registered upward trends in the previous week, remained almost static last week.
Cauliflower was selling at Tk 50 per piece, cabbage Tk 40-50, and new potatoes Tk 30-35 per kg.
Local beans were sold at Tk 50-80 per kg, eggplant Tk 50-80 per kg and tomatoes Tk 70-80 per kg on the day.
On the other hand, prices of loose soybean and palm oils increased by Tk 5.0 a litre.
Prices of rice, beef, fish, and other essentials also maintained their previously high levels in the city markets.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com