Staff Reporter :
Prices of egg and tomato have surged significantly after the Eid-ul-Fitr festival as traders attribute the hike to supply shortages during this long vacation.
Tomato prices have risen to Tk 50-60 a kg from Tk 30-40 before Eid.
Meanwhile, egg prices have increased to Tk 130-135 a dozen from Tk 118-125 before the festival, according to grocers in Dhaka city.
As the Eid vacation is not over yet, kitchen markets and grocery stores have yet to return to their normal operations, leading to a further hike in the prices of a few other essentials.
Julfikar Ali, a vegetable vendor at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said that tomato and brinjal prices have been rising due to a supply crunch during the vacation.
He said prices might decline again once the market stabilises after the Eid vacation that ends tomorrow (Saturday).
April is a transitional month as most winter crops disappear and summer crops start arriving in the market during the time, according to him.
Prices of summer vegetables are expected to remain high throughout April.
Newly harvested teasel gourd, ridge gourd, pointed gourd, bitter gourd and moringa are available in the market.
Teasel gourd was selling at Tk 140-160 a kg, while other summer crops were priced between Tk 80 and Tk 100 a kg.
Meanwhile, country bean, cauliflower and green chilli maintained a static trend, selling at Tk 50-60 a kg or piece.
About this upward movement in egg price, Abdur Rahman, a grocer at Buddhijibirdhal in Rayerbazar, said that farm prices have increased by Tk 0.8-1.0 per piece after Eid.
Supply has also declined, according to him, as wholesalers and their agents have yet to return to work after the vacation.
Yet, the trader claimed that the current price was still much lower than the government-fixed rate.
Only a handful of beef and chicken shops remained open on Thursday, attracting a few customers.
Beef retailed at Tk 780-800 per kilo, which was Tk 20-50 less than a week ago.
Meanwhile, potato and onion prices remained static. Potato was priced at Tk 25-30 a kg (Cardinal, Diamant varieties) and Tk 40-45 a kg (desi red).
Onion was traded at Tk 40-50 a kg, according to kitchen market sources.
