The prices of all types of spices have shot up ahead of Eid-ul-Azha along with the prices of fish, chicken, meat, potato, and green chilli.
The traders have blamed the fluctuating exchange rate of US dollars for the rise in the price of spices. They also said inflation and devaluation of local currency vastly impacted the soaring prices of goods produced in the country.
Currently, cumin is retailing at Tk 850 to 1,000 per kg, up from Tk 570 to 650 in the first week of this month, while the minimum retail price for cardamom rose to Tk 3,800 from Tk 2,800. The premium quality of cardamom that was previously priced at Tk 3,200 is now being sold at Tk 4,200 per kg.
On Friday, garlic is selling from Tk 220 to 270, ginger at Tk 240 to 300, local variety of onion at Tk 80 per kg, green chilli at Tk 180 to 230, dry red chilli at Tk 550 to 650 per kg in the capital.
Shourab Saha, spice retailer in the Karwan Bazar told UNB on Friday that spice items are usually raised ahead of Eid festival, but this year, prices went up due to the dollar price jumping to an all-time high.
He said the wholesalers are raising the prices of spice every week claiming higher import costs due to costlier the US dollar price. The US dollar is usually used in Bangladesh for international trading, so any ups and downs of this foreign exchange affected the prices of consumer items.
Additionally, the wholesale price of white pepper has risen to Tk 1,300 from Tk 1,000. Cashew nuts are now selling at Tk 1,400 compared to Tk 1,200 earlier, while chickpeas have seen an increase from Tk 102 to Tk 130 per kg.
Ramzan Ali of Chadpur Traders in Kawran Bazar, who used to procure spices twice a week from the Moulvibazar wholesale market in Old Dhaka, expressed disappointment at the recent price surge.
“Just 2 weeks ago, I purchased cumin at Tk 570-580 per kg, but now I’ve to pay Tk 700, although these spices were imported well before the new dollar rate came into effect. It appears to be the work of a syndicate,” he added.
A staffer at another store said, “Just six months ago, cardamom was priced at Tk 1,700-1,800 per kg, but now it’s selling for Tk 3,800-4,200. Clearly, a syndicate is controlling the spice trade.”
A spice wholesaler at Moulvibazar wholesale market told UNB over mobile phone that importers instructed them to raise prices in line with the increased dollar rate.
Egg prices has remained in a rising trend since the beginning of May month and were selling this popular protein item at Tk160 to 170 per dozen on Friday in the capital. It saw an increase of price by Tk 30 per dozen in a month.
Special quality farm eggs are priced at Tk220 to Tk250 per dozen. Eggs of domestic rearing hens sell at Tk 85 to 90 per hali (4 pieces) and duck eggs sell at Tk 75 to 80 per hali.
The prices of broiler chicken and Pakistani-origin Sonali chicken have increased by Tk 10 to 20 per kg compared to the last two weeks. The boiler chicken was selling at Tk 220 to 240 per kg based on size and quality. Apart from this, the price of Sonali chicken has also increased and is being sold at Tk 360 to 370 per kg based on size and quality.
Similarly, cock chicken is being sold at Tk 370 to 390 per kg, layer chicken at Tk 300 to Tk 350 per kg, and Indigenous (desi) chicken at Tk 670 to Tk 765 per kg.
The traders of the concerned sectors said prices of chicken increased due to price hikes of chicken food and chicks. Besides, the ongoing heatwave also affected chicken farms, which also impacted the price hike.
Beef was selling between Tk 750 to 780 per kg on Friday based on quality, and saw a rise of price by Tk 30 per kg on other days of the week. Mutton and goat meat was selling at Tk 1,000 to 1,180 per kg based on quality, which saw an increase of Tk 50 per kg.
Hilsha weighing about 450 grams was selling at Tk 650 per kg while Hilsha weighing 1 kg plus were selling at Tk 1,800 to 2,000 per kg at Kawran Bazar fish market on Friday. Hilsha weighing 700 to 800 grams was selling at Tk 900 to 1,000 per piece.
Fish like Rohu and carp were selling between Tk 300 to 450 per kg based on size and quality. Other fish including riverine small fish were selling at Tk 400 to 700 per kg on Friday.
The prices of vegetables have remained stable at a higher rate this time compared to the previous years. Traders blamed inflation for this higher price.
Vegetables including eggplant, okra, drumsticks, string beans, and bitter gourd were stable between Tk 50 to 60 per kg on Friday. The prices of tomatoes have increased as the season is ending. Good quality tomatoes were selling between Tk 60 to 70 per kg.
Vegetables like brinjal and others were selling between Tk 50 to 60 per kg, bottle gourd, ash gourd, and cauliflower at Tk 50 to 60 per piece.
The prices of other commodities including rice, wheat, flour, milk, soybean, aromatic rice, and sugar, have remained unchanged.
