CHATTOGRAM, Sept 06: Prices of essential items continue to rise in the port city, leaving the middle- and low-income people struggling to cope with the cost of living.
The price hike of essentials such as rice, wheat, sugar and oil, both local and imported, during these times of coronavirus has burned a hole in the pocket of consumers.
While visiting different kitchen markets in the port city, including Kazir Dewri Market, Karnaphuli Complex, Bahardarhat and Chawkbazar, on Sunday this correspondent found that green chilli was selling at Tk 190-200 a kg, up from Tk 140 to 150 some two weeks ago, farmed chicken (broiler) at Tk 135 a kg, up from Tk 120, and beef was selling at Tk 750 to Tk 800 a kg, which was Tk 600 to Tk 650.
The coarse rice was selling at Tk 43 to Tk 44, up from Tk 38 to Tk 40.
Sugar saw its price go up to Tk 76 a kg from Tk 65 two weeks earlier while the price of palm oil increased to Tk 4,520 a maund (wholesale price) from Tk 4,300 during the period.
Besides, the wholesale price of soybean oil rose to Tk 5,050 to Tk 5,100 a maund, up from Tk 4,900 in the first week of August.
The wholesale price of wheat also increased to Tk 1,400-Tk 1,450 a maund from Tk 1,020 over the period of one month.
The price of onion has increased by Tk 5 to7 per kg while lentil was selling at Tk 82 per kg, up from Tk 70, and the better variety of lentil at Tk 105, up from Tk 96.
The price of lentil has been on uptrend although a total of 44,722.5 metric tonnes of lentil were imported in July last through Chittagong seaport.
The price of chickpea rose to Tk 40 to 42 per kg, which was selling at Tk 31 per kg two weeks earlier, while the price of gram jumped to Tk 2500 per maund from Tk 2100.
Traders said illegal toll collection is a major reason behind the price hike of local essentials. On the other hand, depreciation of local currency (taka) against US dollar led to the price rise of imported essentials, they added.
Contacted, Chairman of BSRM Group Abul Bashar Abu said, "An increase in the dollar price is the main reason behind the price hike of imported essentials like wheat, sugar and palm oil."
General Secretary of Chaktai Khatunganj Arotdar Samity Md Mohiuddin said, "The rise of dollar on the international market is impacting the prices of essentials on the local market."
Mohammed Sekandar, an importer, said, "Prices of essentials have surged on the international market. Moreover, the dollar price has also increased. Both the factors have pushed up the prices of essentials in the country."
Abdus Salam, a retailer at Kazir Dewri market, said, "We're not making a huge profit but selling the essentials at a rate only two or three taka higher than the wholesale prices."
Salma Begum, a housewife, said essentials are available in the market but traders are selling them at higher prices.
Shamsul Alam, a schoolteacher, said, "We find it difficult to meet our household expenses as prices of essentials are spiralling out of control."
The views of the schoolteacher are reflected on the long lines of people seen waiting to buy subsidised items from the TCB sales points in the city. In the wake of rising prices, TCB has started selling essential items at subsidised rates in port city.
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