Prices of most essentials move upwards

The prices of most of the essentials continued rising due to shortage of supply caused by a halt in transportation during the ongoing countrywide blockade, traders said.
The prices of many commodities, including rice, pulses, vegetables and spices, increased further on Friday comparing to those in the previous week.
The prices of rice went up by Tk 1-2 per kg both at wholesale and retail markets in the city.
Swarna, the coarse variety, sold at Tk 32.5-33 per kg while Brridhan-28 at Tk 39-41, Miniket Tk 44-47 and Najirshail at Tk 52-54 per kg at wholesale markets in Babubazar, Badamtoli, Kochukhet, Mohammadpur and Malibagh on Friday, up by Tk 1-2 in last ten days.
A hike in prices also was visible at wholesale market, putting its impact on retail. The prices of all the varieties rose by Tk 1-2 per kg at retail level on Friday, according to key kitchen markets in the city.
Swarna variety sold at Tk 35-37 per kg, Brridhan-28 at Tk 42-45, Miniket at Tk 48-52, Najirshail at Tk 56-58, Brridhan-29 (known as haski) at Tk 41-42 per kg at Nawabganjbazar, Banalata Kitchen Market, Mirpur Section-6 Kitchen Market, Hatirpool Bazar, Fakirerpool Bazar on Friday.
Md Asadullah, Joint Secretary of Badamtoli and Babubazar Chaul Aratdar Malik Samity, an organisation of rice wholesalers, said supply from rice hubs in Rangpur, Dinajpur, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj has reduced nearly by 80 per cent.
"A few trucks can enter the city, but fare has increased by almost 100 per cent," he said, adding that if the present trend continues, the prices might increase further.    
Except for ginger and onion, the prices of all kinds of spices have shot up in the city's retail market which traders attributed to the countrywide blockade that has almost paralysed the transportation system.
Domestic spice varieties such as chilli ( both green and dried), garlic, powdered form of turmeric, coriander, mustard, foreign genus like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and cumin seed saw a hike ranging from Tk 20 to Tk 150 per kg in last two weeks.
The price of coriander seed which declined by Tk 20-30 per kg last month witnessed a Tk 40-50 per kg increase in last seven days.
Coriander seed sold at Tk 240-250 per kg and its powder sold at Tk 290-310 per kg on Friday. Green chilli sold at Tk 60-70 per kg on Friday which was Tk 40-45 per kg a week back.
Powdered chilli sold at Tk 220-240 per kg which was Tk 200-210 per kg seven days back. Cardamom sold at Tk 1,500-1,550 per kg at retail which was Tk 1,100-1,150 during the pre-blockade period.
The prices of vegetables, including tomato, radish, bitter gourd, green pea, brinjal, bottle gourd, cauliflower, cabbage, pumpkin, potato and all kinds of leaf vegetables increased by Tk 3-10 per kg, per piece or per bunch in last seven days. However, the prices of local bean and carrot declined by Tk 2-3 per kg on Friday.
The prices of lentil further increased by Tk 2-4 per kg and sold at Tk 122-124 (Nepalese) and Tk 102-104 (local) per kg.
Most of other commodities selling at higher prices remained static on Friday, according to traders.
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