Price of ginger rises Tk40 in Dinajpur

The prices of ginger increased by Tk 40 per kg in Hili of Dinajpur’s Hakimpur in the span of a week leaving mid and low-income people in distress.

Ginger was sold at Tk 240 per kg on May 19 and this Friday ginger is being sold at Tk 280 per kg.

According to the wholesalers, the supply of ginger in the market has reduced due to low imports which led to increased prices.

Wholesalers buy ginger from importers for Tk 260-265 per kg and including the transport and labour costs they are selling it for Tk 275 per kg.

Md Rezaul Islam of Isabpur village came to Hili market to buy ginger and complained about the sudden increase in prices. “If the prices of every kitchen essentials keep raising like this, the low-income people will be in severe distress.”

Md Milan Mia of Baigram said, “A month ago the prices were Tk 180 per kg. Ginger is an essential ingredient for all sorts of recipes, there is no way but to buy it. I could only afford to buy half of what I expected due to the high prices.”

Moinul Hossain, a retail ginger seller in the market said, “We buy ginger from wholesalers and sell with a profit of Tk 5-10 per kg. If wholesale prices are high, there is nothing retail sellers can do. We also need to make a living.”

Wholesale ginger sellers Md Saddam Hossain and Mokaram Hossain said they buy ginger from importers for Tk 260-265 and sell for Tk 270-272 with a minimal profit.

Sohrab Hossain Mollik, public relations officer of Panama Hili Port Link Ltd said, “Import of ginger through Hili land port is ongoing. From May 23 to May 25 about 128 tonnes of ginger was imported in eight Indian trucks.”