Essential commodities prices drop after July Uprising
Muhammad Ayub Ali :
With syndicates partially dismantled, the public is beginning to feel relief from the high cost of daily essentials, as improved market conditions have helped stabilize supplies and reduce prices following the ouster of fascist Hasina.
Prices of 20 essential agricultural products—including onions, garlic, green chilli and sugar—have declined following the July Uprising, according to the Department of Agricultural Marketing, reversing a long-standing upward price trend despite adequate domestic production
Experts say stronger market monitoring and stricter action against hoarding and price-fixing could lower the prices of essential commodities and make them more affordable.
According to the Department of Agricultural Marketing, the retail price of potatoes was Tk 60 per kilogram in August 2024, before the mass uprising. As of January 8, 2026, the price has dropped 58 percent to Tk 25 per kilogram.
Before the mass uprising in the country, local onions were Tk 120 per kilogram, now down 12 percent to Tk 105, while imported onions fallen 25percent to Tk 75 from Tk 100. Local garlic dropped 45percent from Tk 220 to Tk 120, and Chinese garlic decreased 22percent to Tk 170.
Thick lentils fell from Tk 110 to Tk 100 , and thick moong dal from Tk 150 to Tk 115. Khesari dal and gram both dropped 12percent, to Tk 105 from Tk 120, while mashkalai decreased 20percent to Tk 180 from Tk 200. Raw sugar also fallen 22percent, from Tk 135 to Tk 105 per kilogram.
In addition, before the uprising, the price of imported ginger was 300 taka. This year, the price has decreased by 40 percent to 180 taka. The price of dried chilli was 350 taka. This year, the price has decreased by 28 percent to 250 taka.
The price of green chilli has fallen 22percent from Tk 180 to Tk 140, while tomatoes dropped 25percent from Tk 160 to Tk 120. Carrots saw a 40percent decline, from Tk 100 to Tk 60. Domestic chicken per kg decreased from Tk 600 to Tk 580, broiler chicken from Tk 180 to Tk 170, and eggs from Tk 12.10 to Tk 10 per piece.
Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan, general secretary of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), told The New Nation that prices have fallen slightly due to a minor reduction in syndicate activity.
He added that if the authorities take strong measures to curb the syndicates and eliminate them at the root, prices could drop even further.