Azizur Rahman, an employee of a private company, faced a harsh reality during his usual Friday visit to the Shantinagar Kitchen Market. As he bought a few basic vegetables, he found himself shelling out Tk 500 for just two to three types of produce, leaving him frustrated and disheartened.
In a conversation with this correspondent, Azizur shared his struggle with the skyrocketing prices. "Even eggs now cost Tk 180 per dozen," he lamented, adding that his monthly salary of Tk 30,000 barely stretches to cover rent, family support, and day-to-day living expenses.
Like many middle-income earners, he is finding it increasingly difficult to manage rising costs of essential goods amidst an unrelenting price surge.
Azizur expressed his frustration, saying, "For nearly a month now, prices have been soaring, despite the public's hopes for relief from the interim government. But so far, we have not seen any meaningful action."
His sentiment resonates with many in the lower and middle-income brackets, who are all asking the same pressing question: "When will prices finally become affordable?"
Meanwhile, sellers argue that vegetable prices typically drop ahead of winter when supplies increase. However, recent floods and unseasonal rains have damaged crops, driving up prices. They anticipate that market conditions will stabilise and prices may ease within the next month.
This situation was evident during field visits to several markets in Rampura and Shantinagar on Friday.
The cheapest vegetable found was papaya, selling for Tk 35-40 per kilogram. Other vegetables, like pointed gourd, were priced at Tk 60-65 per kg, while okra ranged from Tk 80-90 per kg. Yardlong beans were going for Tk 100-120 per kg, round eggplants for Tk 120-130, and long eggplants for Tk 100-120. Tomatoes were among the most expensive, priced at Tk 180-190 per kg.
The prices of Snake gourd, spong gourd, and Luffa ranged between Tk 100-120 per kg, while Taro sold for Tk 80-100 per kg. Spine gourd was priced at Tk 110-120 per kg, and bottle gourd was being sold for Tk 60-80 per piece.
Winter vegetables in the market are also seeing varied prices. Green beans are selling at a steep Tk 480 per kg, while cauliflower ranges from Tk 60 to Tk 80 a piece. Small-sized cabbages are priced at Tk 80, carrots at Tk 180 per kg, and radishes at Tk 80 per kg. Coriander leaves are especially pricey, at Tk 600 per kg, with raw bananas available at Tk 80 per bunch of four to six pieces and Wax gourd at Tk 60-70 each piece. Pumpkins are priced at Tk 60-70 per kg.
Meanwhile, the price of green chilies, which, earlier in the week, spiked sharply, has begun to ease slightly. They are now being sold for Tk 240-300 per kg, although some retailers continue to charge Tk 80-100 for just 250 grams, or Tk 40 for 100 grams.
‘Becoming impossible’
Nurul Ahad, a shopper at Rampura kitchen market, expressed his frustration, saying, "Just 250 grams of green chilies cost me Tk 80! It's becoming impossible to afford other vegetables, most of which are priced at around Tk 100 per kg. If this trend continues, it will only worsen the suffering of ordinary people."
Retailers, on the other hand, are pinning the blame on continuous rainfall. They remain hopeful that once the rains subside, the supply of vegetables will improve, and make the prices more reasonable.
Additionally, many point to flooding in the northern regions as a key factor putting further pressure on the vegetable market.
Rahim Bapari, a seller at Shantinagar kitchen market, noted that the prices of some vegetables, including green chilies, have started to drop. "Green chili prices have now fallen to Tk 260 per kg, down from Tk 400 just two days ago," he said.
However, most other vegetable prices remain high. Rahim also attributed this to the recent rain and flooding in the northern regions, where a majority of the produce is sourced.
"Almost all vegetable prices are still high, and as a result, customers aren't buying as much," he added. "When prices are lower, our sales improve."
Despite the current situation, Rahim is optimistic that within a month, the market will be stocked with winter vegetables, and prices will stabilise.
