Noman Mosharef :
People of the country couldn’t anymore bear the brunt of excessive hiking of almost all daily essentials prices in the market as they have been failing to maintain a very modest life.
People had seen a ray of hope as the government fixed the price of essential kitchen staple onion, potato and egg- the main source of protein of low income group people- in last month.
But the reality is there is no implementation of the government decision in the market as fixed price items are selling at high prices.
Potatoes and onions, which have seen price increases for the last three weeks, were being sold at last week’s prices.
On a visit to several kitchen markets in Dhaka on Friday, this correspondent observed that local onions were priced at Tk100 per kg, cross-variety onions at Tk90 per kg, Indian onions at Tk45-50 per kg and potatoes at Tk50 per kg.
Broiler and vegetable prices in Dhaka’s kitchen markets have gone up in a week, with Ananda Bazar, Azimpur, Kellar Morand New Market traders blaming supply shortages.
However, the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) says except for a few isolated cases, chicken prices are stable.
Traders were selling broilers at Tk220 or more, compared to Tk190 to Tk200 last week.
The buyer, seller and market analyst said that the government policy to control the market by fixing price is completely failed. DNCRP said it is time to rethink about the policy.
The government fixed rate to sell product has no value because it is never implemented in the market and it has no reality.
So, the government fixed rate policy has totally failed to contain the overheated market, said a general store owner in Kellar Mor Bazar.
In addition, vegetables, fish and meat shops were also charging higher prices. However, grocery item prices have stayed the same as last week.
Traders at Azimpur kitchen market were selling broilers at Tk220 per kg; the price was the same in New Market and Palashi Bazar. Meanwhile, Ananda Bazar and Kellar Mor traders were selling it for Tk210.
Furthermore, the prices of Sonali and local breeds of chickens remained at Tk300 and Tk550, the same as last week.
Retailers attributed the rise in broiler prices to hikes in the wholesale market. They believe prices will likely to drop soon.
Shahriar Alam, a chicken trader in Ananda Bazar, said the wholesale price of broilers has risen to Tk190, up from Tk175-180 just a day ago.
As a result, retailers are forced to sell chicken at a higher price.
Buyers expressed their disappointment with the broiler prices.
Baki Billah, a buyer at Azimpur Bazar, said: “Every week, sellers keep raising the prices in various ways.
Broiler prices shot up last week and the week before, and once they go up, they do not seem to come down.”
On Friday, vegetable and fish markets also saw high prices.
There were no vegetables below Tk50 except raw papaya.
Round eggplants were being sold at Tk100, bulbous root at Tk100, cucumbers at Tk80, bitter melons at Tk80, pointed gourd at Tk50-60, spiny gourd at Tk100, snake gourd at Tk50-60, sponge gourd at Tk50-60, carrots at Tk120, radish at Tk80, tomatoes at Tk100, beans at Tk150, green chilli at Tk240 and coriander leaves at Tk200.
Besides, ilish was being sold at Tk1,000-1,600 per kg, rui at Tk400-600, catla at Tk400-600, Ganges river sprat or kachki at Tk500, local Gangetic koi (koi) at Tk600-800, butterfish at Tk400, tilapia at Tk250 and yellowtail catfish at Tk200.
DNCRP Assistant Director Abdul Jabbar Mondal said: “Broilers and other products are being sold at the price fixed by the government.
We have teams to monitor the market, which are conducting raids every day.
In some places, unscrupulous traders sell at high prices, but we are slapping them with fines.”
