Even though only two days left before the start of Ramadan, there was no extra pressure on consumers to buy essential products from the kitchen market. They buy essential products as per their routine.
But the prices of six essential commodities, including rice, pulses, sugar, and potato, have gone up again just a few days before Ramadan. The prices of these products have increased by Tk 2-30 per kg in the last week.
Traders said that they are buying almost all products at higher prices compared to last year. So, this year people are not buying extra due to the budget crisis ahead of Ramadan, they added.
Buying and selling are going on in the markets as usual. But the prices of many products which are in high demand during the holy month of Ramadan have increased further.
However, sellers termed the price hike normal but buyers said that the increase in the prices of the products compared to last year is very ‘uncomfortable’ the low and middle-income people.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the price of beef increased by Tk 30 per kg within four days and it is being sold for about Tk 800 per kg again. It was being sold at Tk 730-780 per kg on Saturday at retail level. It was Tk 700-750 per kg four days ago.
The price of chicken went up by Tk 10 per kg ahead of Ramadan. It is being sold at Tk 200-210 per kg. It was Tk 190-200 per kg three or four days ago.
The price of chickpeas increased by Tk 5 per kg within one week. It was being sold at Tk 100-110 per kg on Saturday. It was Tk 95-110 per kg one week ago.
The price of pulses used in preparation of Iftar has also increased by Tk 5 per kg within four days. It was being sold at Tk 90 per kg on Saturday, up from Tk 85 per kg.
Potato prices went up again after 15 days by Tk 5 per kg. It was being sold at Tk 30-35 per kg, up from Tk 25-30 per kg.
However, onion prices dropped by Tk 20 per kg within one week due to the start of the new season. It was being sold at Tk 80-100 per kg on Saturday. It was Tk 100-120 per kg.
Mustafizur Rahman, a shopkeeper at Segunbagicha kitchen market said that at the wholesale level, the price of sugar increased by Tk 2 per kg, but they have not increased its price at the retail level.
Sugar is being sold at Tk 145 per kg as before.
“People are not buying essential products even on the occasion of Ramadan due to abnormal price hikes. Although only two days left for Ramadan, the kitchen markets are still seeing normal crowds,” he added.
Even though the duty on rice decreased in the past month, its price increased further last week. The price of course and medium rice went up by Tk 2 per kg. It is being sold at Tk 52-56 per kg, up from Tk 50-55 per kg one week ago.
