Prices of essentials go up despite fewer customers after Eid

Even on the fourth day after Eid, when the capital's kitchen and grocery markets were still devoid of customers, traders continued increasing the prices of rice, lentils, fish, meat, and vegetables, among other daily essential commodities.

According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the prices of 44 products have fluctuated over the past week. Of these, 27 have increased in price and 17 have decreased.

According to traders, many products are in short supply due to the Eid holidays, so the price is a little high.

On spot visits to various markets in the capital, including Segunbagicha and Gopibagh on Friday, this correspondent found all the shops to be open.

The shopkeepers were seen waiting for customers but were disappointed to see so few.

The price of rice has remained static. Fine rice was being sold at Tk 68-80 per kg, while medium quality rice was being sold at Tk 52-60 per kg, and coarse rice was being sold at Tk 48-52 per kg.

Meanwhile, soybean oil prices remained the same and loose palm oil prices rose. Bottled soybean oil was being sold for Tk 199-200 per litre and unbottled palm oil was being sold for Tk 150-155 per litre.

Lentil was being sold at Tk 110-140 per kg and the price of sugar was Tk 78-82 per kg as before.

Mostafizur Rahman, a shopkeeper at the Segunbagicha market, said that after Eid, fewer people visited the market for everyday items.

“Maybe from next week the markets will start becoming busy once again,” he added.

The price of eggs has been high for a very long time. Despite a decline in demand for eggs during this Eid, the price remains unchanged.

Farm chicken eggs still cost Tk 40-42 per four pieces. In addition, the price of broiler chicken has increased and was being sold for Tk 150-160 per kg, an increase of Tk 10 per kg from last week.

As expected, most of the beef shops in the market were closed as they usually are after the Qurbani Eid.

Besides, the fish market was also hot. Different varieties of fish, such as rui, katla, and prawn, were sold for an additional Tk 10-20 per kilogram.

Rui fish were being sold at Tk 260-350 per kg, up from Tk 250-330 last week. Small prawns were being sold at Tk 700-750 per kg, up from Tk 650-700 per kg last week.

Four different vegetable varieties now cost Tk 100 per kg on the market, namely eggplants, cucumbers, carrots, and green chillies.

However, the prices of several other types of vegetables, including okra, pointed gourd, snake gourd, and kochur loti have remained stable at Tk 40-50 per kg since last week.

Anwar Hossain, a vegetable vendor at the Gopibag market, said, “Due to the Eid holiday, there are no imported carrots on the market. In addition, the season for certain local vegetables is coming to a close. Due to the monsoon, the production of numerous vegetables is low. Overall, the vegetable market may continue for another month.”