Prices of daily essentials soar ahead of Ramadan

The prices of daily essential commodities including rice, edible oil, chicken, onion and vegetables have started going up in Dhaka’s kitchen markets ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

At several kitchen markets on Sunday, the prices of each kg coarse, medium and finer varieties of rice rose by 2-3 taka compared to last week while oil increased by 3-5 taka per litre.

The prices of a kg local onion jumped to 45-55 taka from 25-30 taka and the imported variety went up 35-40 taka from 18-20 taka compared to the last week, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).

Besides, the price of each kg broiler chicken went up 150-160 taka from 120-130 taka, local variety rose at 450-600 taka from 370-400 taka and the Pakistani chicken increased up to 400 taka from 250-270 taka compared to last week in the city’s retail markets including Kaptanbazar, Jatrabari Kacha Bazaar and Sarulia Kitchen Market.

A kg of sugar was being sold at 65-70 taka, four pieces of eggs (one hali) was sold for 28-32 taka. Each kg of small grain pulse was selling for 100-110 taka, medium for 75-85 taka and large variety for 65-70 taka.

March 14 data from state-run TCB showed that the price of coarse variety of rice increased to 46-50 taka from 44-46 taka. The medium variety was being sold at 52-58 taka, up from 48-56 taka.

Meanwhile, a kg of loose soybean oil saw a hike of 3 taka, now selling at 118-121 taka. But a five-litre bottle had a 20 taka price hike, currently costing around 600 taka. The price of each kg loose palm oil rose to 105-107 taka from 100-105 taka and super one increased to 108-110 taka from 105-107 taka in a week.

The prices of one-litre of loose soybean oil increased 38.15% while one-litre bottle went up 26.19% and a five-litre bottle rose 25.77% this year compared to the same time last year, according to TCB data.

On the other hand, the price of one litre loose palm oil increased 46.21% and super palm oil jumped 41.56% in a year.

The city consumers claimed the unscrupulous businesses hike prices of essentials during Ramadan which creates an extra burden on the general people.

“Today I purchased a kg beef at 600 taka, mutton at taka 980 and Pakistani chicken at 400 taka from Sarulia kitchen market. Several days ago, I bought chicken for 250 taka,” Mohammad Siam, a consumer told UNB.

He said the prices of rice and oil increased abnormally. “I don’t know how much they’ll increase during Ramadan. The government should take proper initiatives to control the kitchen market, otherwise unscrupulous businesses will continue to hike prices to line their pockets,” he said.

Nojibur Rahman, a shopkeeper of Jatrabari, blamed the hike on wholesale traders. “Stockpiling by big businesses ahead of Ramadan trigger supply crunch and push up the prices,” he said.

Kabir Hossain, a chicken trader of Meradia Bazar said many broiler firms were shut due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “The number of farms has fallen. But prices will remain stable during Ramadan if there’s no supply crunch,” he added.

Raisul Islam, a vegetable trader of Amulia area said the prices of vegetable would go up in Ramadan due to high demands.

“Currently, a kg of brinjal costs 30-45 taka, papaya 30-40 taka, bitter gourd 50-55 taka, bottle gourd 40-50 taka (per piece), beans 40-50 taka, cucumber 30-40 taka, cauliflower 25-30 taka (per piece), cabbage 30-35 taka (per piece), tomato 25-35 taka (kg) and green chili 80-100 taka (kg),” he added.