The prices of winter vegetables, except potatoes, decreased slightly as the supply increased but meat and fish prices were still high in the kitchen markets of Dhaka city on Friday.
Though the prices of vegetables have dropped, they were selling Tk 20-30 per kg higher compared to the same period of the last year. Comparatively, vegetables and all other commodities are exactly higher this year, than recent previous years, said Harun-Ur Rashid, a retired employee of the government.
Talking to UNB at the Karwan Bazar kitchen market, he said that potato, tomato and carrot prices usually remain between Tk 20 and Tk 40 per kg during this time of season. But these items are selling between Tk 60 and 70 per kg based on quality.
These additional prices have become a burden for retired and fixed-income groups. Thus decreasing the prices of vegetables by Tk 10-20 per kg is not bringing any relief to the consumers, he said.
However, almost all winter vegetables were selling between Tk 40 and Tk 70 per kg in the Karwan Bazar market on Friday.
Potato was selling at Tk 60-70 per kg, onion at Tk 70 to per kg based on quality, garlic at Tk 220 per kg, and ginger at Tk 200-240 per kg in different markets of the capital.
On the other hand, discomfort remains in the fish and meat market.
Broiler chicken was selling at Tk 200-220 per kg, and Sonali chicken (Pakistani variety) Tk 320-340 per kg. Beef, which was sold at Tk 650 in many places a couple of weeks ago, is now being sold at Tk 700 per kg everywhere.
Per dozen brown eggs (hens) were being sold at Tk 135-140 per dozen and white eggs at Tk 5-10 less than that. Duck eggs were selling for Tk 180-190 per dozen while eggs of indigenous domestically reared chicken were selling at Tk 210 per dozen.
The prices of fish are higher now compared to a few months ago.
However, Tilapia, Pangas and Carp were selling between Tk 220 and Tk 260 per kg. Among other fish, the price of medium size weighing 1.5 kg to 2 kg farming Rui, Katla and Mrigel fish was between Tk 300 and Tk 400 per kg. Also, price of Pabda, Tengra, Koi, Boal, Chital and Ilish is not below Tk 600 per kg.
The bigger size fish prices like Coral, Boal and river Pangas were selling between Tk 700 and Tk 1,100 per kg at Karwan Bazar market.
Asked about the price hike, Directorate of National Consumers Rights Protection Director General AHM Shafiquzzaman told UNB that his office will launch a drive against the unusual price hike of these essentials.
He also said that a few months ago he asked different ministries and directorates to take steps to increase the supply of essentials including onions and potatoes to control prices.
Shafiquzzaman said during a visit to different cold storage in different districts he found enough stock of potatoes, despite the price increase.
If the higher price of onion and potato continue, the government will decide to import those items, he said.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh Vice-President SM Nazer Hossain said consumers in Bangladesh are having a hard time amid record prices of commodities due to higher inflation.
Farm egg, broiler chicken and cultured fish are key protein sources for millions of poor in the country. Prices of all such products have increased and forced a vast population to cut their protein and other nutrition-rich food intake, he said.
