Vegetable prices dip, essential items remain stable in Dhaka

The prices of vegetables have gone down and essential commodities remained stable at kitchen markets in the capital on Friday amid the ongoing countrywide strict lockdown.

Vegetable prices took a downturn after the Eid holidays in kitchen markets across Dhaka due to sufficient supply despite low demand.

At Karwan Bazar and Mohakhali kitchen markets, potato was being sold between Tk 20 and Tk 25; cucumbers between Tk 30 and Tk 35, down from Tk 60 to Tk 80; pumpkins at Tk 30 per kg down from Tk 40; green banana (group of four) at Tk 30, medium-sized pointed gourd between Tk 35 to Tk 40 per kg, long beans at Tk 50, brinjal at Tk 40 per kg, green papaya at Tk 30 per piece, down from Tk 40; snake gourd at Tk 40 per kg, down from Tk 60; bottle gourds at Tk 40 per kg, down from Tk 50; and bitter gourds Tk 50 per kg, down from Tk 60.

“The supply of vegetable remains adequate despite the ongoing lockdown. However, the demand has been low as many city dwellers are yet to return from their village towns after the Eid vacations as both private and public offices remain closed. Thus, prices of vegetables have fallen since the Eid holidays,” Mohammad Anwar-ul-Islam, a retailer at Shukrabad kitchen market, told The Business Post on Friday.

However, price of carrots remained unchanged at Tk 100 per kg, tomato between Tk 100 and Tk 110, and green chili was selling between Tk 80 to Tk 100 per kg. These were the most expensive vegetables at the kitchen markets.

Retailers said green chili remains costly as the production is very low amid the rainy season while tomato prices remain high as it is in off season.

Meanwhile, soybean oil was being sold at Tk 153 per litre, while a five-litre jar costs between Tk 700 and Tk 728, depending on quality.

But, some shopkeepers continue to sell their old stock of soybean oil at previous prices between Tk 142 and Tk 145 per litre, a two-litre bottle at Tk 270 and a five-litre jar between Tk 670 to Tk 680.

Besides, sugar was selling at Tk 72 per kg, lentils of different varieties between Tk 80 and Tk 120 per kg, onion came down to Tk 47 per kg down from Tk 55, local garlic at Tk 180 per kg and imported garlic Tk 150, local ginger at Tk 150 per kg and imported ginger at Tk 180, and non-branded flour at Tk 30 per kg and packaged flour at Tk 45 per kg.

Similarly, prices of fresh fish in the market have also gone down due more supply than the demand.

Hilsa fish was selling between Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,400 per kg depending on size; medium-sized shrimp between Tk 400 and Tk 600 per kg, catfish between Tk 350 and Tk 400 per kg, tilapia between Tk 140 and Tk 180 per kg, rui between Tk 250 and Tk 300, boal at Tk 400 per kg, pabda between Tk 350 and Tk 400 per kg, and katla between Tk 220 to Tk 260, among others.

On the other hand, broiler chicken came down between Tk 110 to Tk 125 per kg, layer and sonali chicken were selling at Tk 220 to Tk 240 per kg. Beef was selling between Tk 580 to Tk 600 and mutton was between Tk 820 to Tk 870 per kg.

Price of rice remains stable, with najirshail rice between Tk 62 and Tk 68, miniket-brand rice between Tk 60 and Tk 65, paijam rice between Tk 48 to Tk 50, katari rice between Tk 55 and Tk 60, basmati rice between Tk 70 and 75, and BRRI-28 and BRRI-29 between Tk 52 and Tk 54.