Prices of green chilli witnessed a significant rise in the city markets on Friday after remaining static for the last two weeks, thus increasing sufferings of the consumers further.
Traders attributed the price hike to fall in its import amid a strike at Benapole land-port in Jessore as well as decline in local production amid inundation in many places.
Green chilli was sold at Tk 140-180 a kg at retail shops of different markets across the city on Friday, which was Tk 120-130 a kg on Thursday, marking 17 to 38 per cent surge in a day.
Md Juel Rana, a vendor at Dhanmondi Section-15 in the city, said prices of the spice increased to Tk 120-122 a kg at Karwan Bazar and Rayer Bazar wholesale markets on the day, which was hardly Tk 90-95 a kg.
Imran Ali Master, president of Bangladesh Vegetables Wholesalers Association, said chilli prices increased on Friday amid its low import.
He said Customs Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) Agents Association called a strike at Benapole port on Thursday morning, which caused a supply shortage of the item on Friday.
The prices might ease from today (Saturday), as the strike has already been withdrawn, he also said.
Besides, production of local chilli has seriously been affected by flood and inundation in major growing districts this year, which has raised dependency on imported chilli. Import cost of chilli is now US$ 840-900 a tonne (Tk 69.30-74.25 a kg).
He said prices of local chilli are much higher this month, as it is traded at Tk 80-85 a kg at wholesale markets in Bogra and Manikganj.
Bangladesh produces 0.42 million tonnes of chilli annually against its demand of 0.45-0.46 million tonnes, according to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and Ministry of Commerce (MoC).
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