Green chilli price soars in dists

MAGURA, Sept 2:  Middlemen syndicate is manipulating over green chilli price in Magura. As a result the price of it is increasing day by day in the districts.  In this situation consumers are suffering extremely. They are blaming failure in monitoring of price by government authority in this regard.
Consumers sources said, green chilli was being sold in the local market at Tk 100 per kg 3 weeks ago. But the price has now shot up to Tk 150 per kg. Traders are exploiting customers by making syndicate.
Niamul Hoque, a farmers of village Norihati under Magura sadar Upazila said, only 3 weeks ago we sold green chilli in the wholesale market at Tk 65 per kg. At that time chilli was being sold by retailers at Tk 100 per kg. Though we are still selling chilli to the wholesalers at Tk 65 per kg, it is now being sold by retailers at Tk 150 per kg now.
Akram Khan, a wholesaler of chilli at Magura Kutcha Bazar denied the allegation of syndicate. He said, 'At present we are dependent on imported chilli rather than domestic production to meet up the consumers' demand. As price of imported chilli has increased, we are compelled to sell it at a high price.
District marketing officer, Magura Md Jakir Hossein denied the allegation of monitoring weakness and said chilli price is lower in Magura compared with other parts of the country.

Rangpur
Another report from Our Rangpur Correspondent adds: The price of green chilli has shot up abnormally at different kitchen markets in the district, causing utter sufferings to the common consumers. Traders attributed the situation to scanty supply in wholesale markets. Presently one kg of green chilli is being sold at Tk 100 to Tk 120 in retail outlets although it sold for Tk 50 to Tk 60 only few days ago.
Mokhles, a wholesaler of Rangpur city bazar claimed the prices of chilli soared up due to inadequate supply. Incessant rain during last couple of weeks seriously hampered production of chilli, causing a drastic fall in supply in wholesale markets which caused price hike of chilli.   
DAE sources said, the recent rainfall did not cause much damage to chilli and so there is no logical reason for its soaring price. A section of dishonest traders might have increased its prices in order to earn more profit, sources added.