Staff Reporter :
The daily necessities market is bustling with activity during the holy month of Ramadan. Some consumers are purchasing enough supplies for the entire month, while others are buying items like oil, chickpeas, and onions for one or two weeks.
Except for bottled soybeans, the prices of all other products are currently lower than last year, according to sellers.
But the buyers have said the price of lemon, chicken, meat and fish slightly increased which may bear very tough for the limited income people.
According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the country has imported over 160,000 tons of chickpeas in the last two and a half months (December-February), ensuring there will be no shortage in the market.
In the retail market, chickpeas are being sold at Tk 105 to Tk 110 per kg, down from Tk 115 per kg last month. Along with chickpeas, the prices of lentils and peas are also stabilising. Good-quality imported lentils are priced between Tk 125 and Tk 130, while thick lentils are being sold at Tk 100 to Tk 105. Peas are priced at Tk 60 to Tk 65 per kg.
Meanwhile, the supply of both domestic and imported onions has increased in retail and wholesale markets. In Kawran Bazar, a large consumer goods market, the price of onions currently ranges from Tk 35 to Tk 42 per kg, while imported onions from India are priced between Tk 60 and Tk 62 per kg. In the retail market, domestic onions are selling for around Tk 50, while Indian onions are averaging Tk 68 per kg.
Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin has assured that the supply of all commodities in the market ahead of Ramadan would be secured within a week.
“Supply of edible oil, dates, and chickpeas will return to normal in the next seven days,” he said in a statement to the press following a meeting with tannery owners at Hemayetpur this afternoon.
The adviser visited the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) at the BSCIC Industrial City in Harindhara, Savar. He confirmed there would be no shortage of food items during Ramadan and that the prices of all commodities, including dates, would decrease. The adviser added that sufficient stock of all goods is available to meet Ramadan demand, ensuring no supply-related issues in the market.
The adviser also provided necessary guidance to tannery owners to protect the environment during Ramadan.
However, a visit to the retail market revealed that the average price of all vegetables is around Tk 40. Brinjal is priced at Tk 35 per kg, cucumbers range from Tk 30 to Tk 40, tomatoes cost Tk 20 to Tk 30, green chillies are sold for Tk 40 to Tk 60, and potatoes are priced at Tk 20 to Tk 30 per kg.
The price of lemons has increased. A bunch of four lemons is now priced at least Tk 20 higher than it was a month ago, with the current retail price being Tk 60.
In the chicken market, broiler chickens are being sold at Tk 180 to Tk 185 per kg, while golden chickens are priced at Tk 320 to Tk 330. Beef with bones is being sold at Tk 750 to Tk 800 per kg, while boneless beef is priced at Tk 950 per kg.
