Saturday, May 04, 2024
Onion and potato prices have risen again in the markets of Chattogram city after some reprieve during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
Traders have claimed that supply chain disruption during Eid led to an increase in prices of potatoes by Tk 10-15 per kg and onions by Tk 5-10. At retail, potatoes are being sold at Tk 60-65 while onions at Tk 65-70.
Visits to the port city’s different wholesale and retail markets, including Chawkbazar, Bahaddarhat, Aturar Depot, Kazir Dewri, Karnaphuli Complex, Khatunganj and Reazuddin Bazar, on Saturday showed that tomatoes were being sold at Tk 50 per kg, cucumber at Tk 40, cabbage, carrot, bottle gourd and pumpkin were being sold at Tk 30-50 per kg.
Green chilli, bean and eggplant were sold at Tk 50 per kg. Besides, papaya, snake gourd, okra and pointed gourd are sold at Tk 60 per kg. Yardlong bean and bean seeds were being sold at Tk 80.
Also, spiny gourds were being sold at Tk 160 per kg and bitter gourds at Tk 100 per kg.
Traders said that summer vegetables have not started coming in yet and there are not many winter vegetables now. Supply has fallen since Eid as many are yet to return from home. Vegetables have to be bought at a higher price and that is why the prices are Tk 5-10 higher.
Meanwhile, broiler chicken is being sold at Tk 230 per kg, Sonali chicken at Tk 350, and local chicken at Tk 600. Also, beef is being sold at Tk 800-900 per kg and goat meat at around Tk 1,500. The price of fish is also high.
Ibrahim, who came to the city's Kazir Dewri kitchen market to shop, told The Business Post that there was no relief in the vegetable market.
“The prices of most of the vegetables are Tk 60 per kg. A handful of vegetables are available under Tk 50. The prices have been increased by the syndicate. We buyers are in trouble and there is no one to monitor this.
“The price of potatoes has increased by Tk 15. Onion prices are also rising. Since we do not have any additional income, we have to settle with buying less,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chattogram District Administration carried out monitoring activities in the wholesale market of Khatunganj on Saturday afternoon. Its teams verified whether the price lists were on display and whether shops were preserving the purchase and sale receipts.
Two traders were fined Tk 10,000 for selling products without sales receipts.
