Kitchen markets empty as price remains stable

Mohammad Nahian

Kitchen markets in the capital experienced a thin turnout of customer on Friday after Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslims, though supply of commodities was adequate.

Prices of essentials also remained unchanged amid a fresh spell of nationwide strict lockdown that began at 6:00am on the day.

Very few customers were seen at a number of kitchen markets in Dhaka, including Mohakhali, Mirpur and Karwan Bazar.

Md Shakhawat Hossain Sohel, owner of Needs General Store at Mohakhali, said, “Few customers are turning up at the markets though supply and stock of commodities is satisfactory. Prices of many essential commodities including rice, edible oil, eggs, sugar remained unchanged.”

“A large number of consumers already purchased their needed commodities before Eid. So, the demand is low now,” he added.

If the supply of commodities gets hampered in the next few days due to the lockdown, then the prices of most essential commodities are likely to increase, he added.

Miniket brand rice is being sold at Tk 62 per kilogramme, Nazirshail variety rice at Tk 65 per kg, Basmati rice at Tk 70 per kg, Kataribhog rice at Tk 55, Nawab Miniket rice at Tk 65 per kg, and coarse rice is being sold at Tk 45 per kg.

Meanwhile, one-litre bottle of soybean oil was being sold at Tk 153, two-litre bottle at Tk 308 and five-litre bottle at Tk 728.

At the same time, presence of customers also remained thin at meat and fish shops after Eid-ul-Azha.

Sonali chicken was being sold between Tk 240 and Tk250 per kg, broiler chicken between Tk 140 and TK150 per kg. Beef was being sold at Tk 590-600 per kg and mutton at Tk 850-880 per kg.

At fish market, Tilapia was being sold between Tk 140 and Tk 150 per kg, Pabda between Tk 330 and Tk350 per kg, and Katla between Tk 230 and Tk240 per kg.

Md Babul, owner of grocery Mama-Bhagina Store at Karwan Bazar, said that the presence of customers remained low after Eid and expressed hopes that more customers will show up in the next few days.

“Prices of essential commodities remained unchanged on the first day of the lockdown. We have enough stock and the supply is also satisfactory,” he said.

Among vegetables, four pieces of green bananas were sold between Tk 25 and Tk 35, bottle gourds between Tk 45 and Tk 65 per kg, snake gourds between Tk 50 and Tk 60 per kg, bitter gourds between Tk 50 and Tk 60 per kg, tomatoes between Tk 90 and Tk 100 per kg.

Besides, onions were being sold at Tk 50 per kg and garlic at Tk 160 per kg in the kitchen markets.

Md Samim, a vegetable seller at Mirpur-1 kitchen market, said, “Before the Eid-ul-Azha, buyers surged at the markets but now the scenario is totally opposite. I hope the presence of buyers will increase from Sunday.”

He said lemons, papayas and ripe bananas are on very high demand currently. Four pieces of lemon was being sold between Tk 20 and Tk 25, papayas between Tk 60 and Tk 70 per kg, while ripe bananas between Tk 100 and Tk120 a dozen.