The government had recently made attempts to rein in the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities such as potatoes, eggs and onions, but the initiative shows little impact on local markets due to bad actors – middlemen, hoarders and syndicates.
In an attempt to give the average consumers a breather, the commerce ministry had capped the maximum prices of these three commodities on September 14, but in person visits to a number of key wholesale and retail markets in the city showed a very different reality.
According to prices set by the ministry, traders are supposed to sell eggs at Tk 12 per piece, onions at Tk 64 – Tk 65 per kg, and potatoes at Tk 35 – Tk 36 per kg.
During that time, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi warned of legal action against traders overcharging their customers.
A spot visit to Karwan Bazar on Monday, the capital's largest wholesale kitchen market, shows that the traders are selling eggs at Tk 12.5 per piece, while the retail price is Tk 13.75.
The wholesale price of potatoes stood at Tk 40 to Tk 54, while consumers are paying Tk 50 and Tk 65 per kg of potatoes. In Karwan Bazar, imported onions are being sold for Tk 65 – Tk 70 per kg, and local onions for Tk 95 per kg.
Aside from these three kitchen essentials, many other commodities including garlic, ginger, turmeric, and dry chili are experiencing significant price hikes. The retail price of garlic has reached Tk 180 – Tk 200 per kg in some areas of the capital.
Ginger prices have soared to Tk 220 – Tk 240 per kg. The price of turmeric stood at Tk 260 – Tk 300 per kg, while it is Tk 280 – Tk 320 per kg at the retail level.
Dry chili is being sold at a wholesale rate of Tk 380 – Tk 450 per kg, and at a retail rate of Tk 400 – Tk 460 per kg.
The price of pulses and lentils such Moong dal, khesari dal, butter dal, mashkalai dal, chickpeas, and lentils have also gone up by around Tk 5 per kg.
