The prices of most vegetables have doubled in the capital’s kitchen markets compared to a week ago due to a supply crunch, according to consumers.
At several kitchen markets in the city on Sunday, each kg broiler chicken was selling at 170-180 taka which was 150-160 taka a week ago. It was sold for 120-130 taka last month.
Besides, the prices of different daily essential commodities including soybean and palm oil, chicken, flour and sugar keep on soaring in Dhaka’s kitchen markets ahead of the month of Ramadan.
The consumers urged the government to take proper steps to control the prices at the kitchen markets in the holy month of Ramadan amid the Covid-19 crisis.
Shariful Alam, a resident of Amulia, said he has to purchase most vegetables at double the prices compared to a week ago. “Today I bought a kg of aubergine and cucumber at 50 taka which was 25 taka respectively in the last week. Besides, I purchased a kg broiler at 170 taka which was 150 taka a week ago,” he also shared.
Four pieces of lemon were selling at 40-60 taka, each kg arum at 40-50 taka, bitter gourd at 50-60 taka, papaya at 40 taka, bean at 40-60 taka and yardlong bean at 50 taka, lady's finger at 60 taka, calabash at 40-50 taka, and pointed gourd at 50-60 taka in the capital.
Meanwhile, a kg potato was sold at 20-25 taka, green chilli at 30 taka and onion at 40-50 taka in the retail market.
Shariful added the government should take proper steps to control the prices in the kitchen markets at the earliest otherwise the market will go out of control of the government during the month of Ramadan amid the Covid-19 crisis too.
“Unscrupulous traders always try to make extra profit creating a crisis. So, the government should monitor the market properly and increase stocks by import the item before a shortage occurs. Otherwise, general people have to suffer,” he also added.
Anisur Rahman Khan, a chicken trader of the Sarulia kitchen market, said the price of broiler increased immensely in the last several weeks. “Today, we are selling each kg broiler at 170-180 taka as we have to purchase it at high prices from the wholesale market. In the last five days, the price increased by 20 taka. The price was 120-130 taka several weeks ago,” he added.
Anisur added sales also increased ahead of Shab-e-Barat to be celebrated on the night of March 29 amid a supply crunch.
Monzurul Islam, a shopkeeper of Sarulia Kitchen market of the city, told UNB that increasing the prices of daily essentials before the month of Ramadan is normal. “The prices of particular goods go up in the month for increased demand. If supply is available then the prices will come down,” he added.
Salman Forazi, a vegetable trader of Jatrabari, said many essentials' prices are soaring for the same reason.
According to the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data, the prices of broiler chicken increased 1.61 per cent compared to a week while a five-litre bottled soybean jumped 2.44 per cent in this time.
“The prices of one-litre of loose soybean oil increased to 119-126 taka from 119-125 taka, bottled one at 136-140 taka from 130-140 taka and a five-litre bottled soybean jumped to 620-640 taka from 610-620 taka compared to a week. On the other hand, the price of palm oil (loose) increased to 108-110 taka from 107-110 taka in the period,” the data also showed.
The TCB data showed the prices of one-litre of loose soybean oil increased 33.88 % while a one-litre bottle went up 28.37% and a five-litre bottle rose 26% this year compared to the same time last year. Besides, the price of a kg palm loose increased 47.30% and super one went up 39.75 per cent compared to the previous year, according to data of the state-run organisation.
The data also showed that the price of each kg curcuma rose to 150-180 taka from 150-160 taka while ginger increased to 70-120 taka from 70-110 taka and sugar increased to 68-70 taka from 65-70 taka compared to last week. Besides, a kg flour price rose at 33-36 taka from 33-35 taka. Though fine rice prices came down to 58-64 taka from 60-66 taka and coarse rice decreased to 44-47 taka from 44-48 taka at the same time.
Nasir Khan, a consumer of the Bangshal area, said the prices of rice, oil and meat are very high now in retail markets in Dhaka. “We are under pressure with my family members increasing the commodities prices. Our overall expenditure including house rent increased vastly but income did not increase. The government should monitor the kitchen market properly so that unscrupulous traders can’t raise the prices in Ramadan amid the economic crisis situation posed by the pandemic,” he said.
Bharatia Parishad president Md Baharane Sultan Bahar said unscrupulous businesses increased the prices of essentials ahead of Ramadan willingly to get extra profit. So, they should be punished for this reason.
“The prices of essential commodities including rice, oil and meat go up every day extravagantly in the capital. The people are hostage to the unscrupulous businesses,” he also said.
Bahar also said they have to purchase each kg fine rice at 65-70 taka, soybean at 140-145 taka, broiler chicken at 160 taka, Sonali chicken at 350-370 taka, beef at 600 taka, mutton at 900 taka and Rui fish at 300-350 taka.
“It’s inhuman to increase prices of goods amid the Covid-19 pandemic. So the unscrupulous traders should be arrested,” he also said.
The Convener of Tele Consumers Association of Bangladesh (TCAB) Md Murshidul Hoque said per capita expenditure has increased alarmingly in Bangladesh compared to per capita income for various reasons.
“Low-income earners have to spend most of their income to purchase essential commodities in our country,” he said.
