The government's efforts to rein in price hike of the commodities, consumed in a large volume in the holy month of Ramadan, went into vain, as prices of most of these items have increased notably.
Prices of brinjal, potato, onion, chilli, cucumber, coriander leaf, mint leaf, puffed rice, turmeric, ginger, date and beef have increased significantly in the city's kitchen markets in the last seven days.
The prices of other vegetables also surged significantly in the period, according to the city's kitchen markets traders.
Ginger prices touched their previous record of Tk 240 per kg (Chinese) and Tk 180-200 per kg (local) Friday, a Tk 50-60 increase in last seven days.
Onion prices witnessed unusual hike and were sold at Tk 45-46 per kg (local) and Tk 40-44 (imported) per kg Friday, rising 20-25 per cent.
The Indian government's decision of increasing onion export prices increased its price in the Bangladeshi market, traders said.
The Indian government recently fixed onion export price at US$ 500 per tonne, which was $150 per tonne three weeks back.
Experts, however, predicted that an alliance of unscrupulous importers and traders is responsible for latest the hike in onion prices in Bangladesh.
They said the country got an optimum onion production this year, and there is no possibility of its scarcity before September-October period.
Chilli, cucumber, brinjal and coriander leaf prices witnessed 80-100 per cent hike in the last seven days.
Few brinjal varieties, suitable for making a fried item 'Beguni', were sold at Tk 80-100 per kg, while other varieties were sold at Tk 50-60 per kg, showing a cent per cent increase.
Turmeric powder prices increased to Tk 220-230 per kg, which was Tk 200-210 per kg seven days back and Tk 150-155 two weeks ago, according to the city's kitchen market traders.
Turmeric (dry seed) price also increased to Tk 150-155 per kg, a Tk 30 increase in two weeks.
Edible oil prices (bottled) also witnessed a hike of Tk 2-3 per litre, according to the traders.
Chickpea and sugar prices increased a few days before Ramadan. Chickpea prices increased by Tk 5-10 per kg and sugar prices by Tk 2-3 per kg two weeks before the month.
Meanwhile, the government had taken many measures so that the price may remain static.
The commerce ministry has given a circular that every shop will have to hang the price chart in front of their shop and must follow it.
The ministry has deployed 14 teams to monitor the city markets, according to the ministry sources.
Rounding seven key kitchen markets from June 23 to 30, the FE correspondent found that 90 per cent permanent shop had the chart but most of them were not following it.
Meanwhile, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is selling five essential commodities in open market across the country, with an aim to keep their prices affordable to consumers during the Ramadan.
As many as 174 trucks, including 25 in Dhaka, 10 in Chittagong, five in each divisional city and two in each district town, are engaged in selling lentils, edible oil, sugar, dates and chickpea.
TCB is selling soybean oil at Tk 107 per litre, sugar at Tk 39 per kg, lentil at Tk 65 per kg, chickpea at Tk 44 per kg and dates at Tk 70 per kg at the sales centres. The corporation is also is thinking of selling onion through the trucks.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan said the government's policies are good, but their implementation is not praiseworthy.
He said the prices of vegetables at retail level are cent per cent higher than their prices at farm level.
Random mobile court should be conducted by the government to ensure that the traders are following price chart.
Besides, importers and big traders of essentials should be brought under strict monitoring to keep their prices stable, he added.
Commodities\\\' prices on rise in Ramadan
FE Report | Published: July 05, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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