The price of green chilli has soared to Tk 600 per kg in Barishal, and consumers blame the lack of monitoring from the local administration for this.
Traders, however, said the shortage of supply during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays and continued rainfall are behind the price hike.
Recently, the government allowed the import of green chilli in the wake of surging prices at local markets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Despite import permission, the price of chilli is going up.
During a recent visit to some local markets in Barishal city, this UNB correspondent found that consumers were purchasing green chilli at a high price due to a supply shortage.
Per kg green chilli was being sold at Tk 500 on Wednesday before Eid-ul-Azha, but on Friday the peppers were being sold at Tk 600 per kg.
Traders claimed that they are making less profit from selling green chilli as continued rainfall damaged the crops.
Motahar Uddin, a resident of Kaunia in the city, said, “My salary is Tk 9,000 and the price of green chilli is Tk 600 per kg. After hearing the price, I decided to buy red chilli. Prices of other vegetables are also beyond the capacity of low-income people.”
Had the local administration monitored the market regularly, the skyrocketing prices of green chilli may have remained within limits, he said.
Arafat, a college student, said, “I live in a mess and after visiting the kitchen market I found that per kg tomato is being sold at Tk 250 while green chilli at Tk 600. The vendors have many excuses to increase the price of essential items.”
Vegetable trader Rahmat at Jailkhana Road said the supply of green chilli is inadequate in local markets and people were not buying chilli after hearing the prices.
Deputy Director of the Department of National Consumers Rights and Protection, Apurba Chowdhury, said many green chilli croplands have been damaged due to rain and during the Eid holidays, the supply of vegetables is low. The authorities concerned are monitoring the market regularly, he said.
