Staff Reporter :
After five days of Eid vacation, the capital kitchen markets have yet to resume activities in full swing due to less consumers’ presence. Most of the shops were closed even on Friday.
Although there are a handful of buyers, the prices of vegetables and chicken meat are on down trend.
A visit to some kitchen markets showed that the prices of several vegetables have decreased by Tk5 to Tk10 per kg, with sellers waiting for buyers.
They said they expect the number of buyers to increase by Sunday.
The prices of most vegetables are higher during this closure compared to before Eid.
At a raw kitchen market in Mirpur-1, tomatoes are being sold at Tk120 per kg, local carrots at Tk80, Chinese carrots at Tk140, long eggplants at Tk70, white round eggplants at Tk80, black round eggplants at Tk70, cucumber at Tk50 (hybrid) and Tk60 (local), bitter gourd at Tk70, papaya at Tk40, radish at Tk60, fenugreek at Tk60, snake gourd (Chichinga) at Tk60, Zuncchini (Dhundal) at Tk60, Luffa (Jhinga) at Tk60, arum lobe (Kochur Loti) at Tk70, pumpkin at Tk30, green chilli at Tk70 and coriander at Tk200.
And depending on the quality, each gourd is being sold at Tk60, wax gourd at Tk60, cauliflower at Tk50 and cabbage at Tk50.
Apart from this, bananas are Tk10 per piece and lemons Tk5 per piece. Notably, the price of tomatoes per kg has increased by Tk40, the price of Chinese carrots has increased by Tk20, the price of long eggplants has increased by Tk10, the price of white round eggplants has increased by Tk20, the price of bitter gourd has increased by Tk10, the price of spiny gourd (Kakrol) has increased by Tk10, the price of radish has increased by Tk10, the price of pointed gourd has increased by Tk10, the price of snake gourd has increased by Tk10 the price of dhundal has increased by Tk10. In addition, the price of rice and pumpkin has increased by Tk10.
The price of papaya per kg has decreased by Tk20, the price of kochurmukhi has decreased by Tk10, the price of green chilli has decreased by Tk10 and the price of gourd has decreased by Tk10 per piece.
Apart from this, the prices of other vegetables have remained unchanged.
Regarding the increase in vegetable prices, vendor Shah Alam said: “The Eid holidays are not over yet. So just as we have not opened shops in the market yet, similarly, the places from where we bring vegetables have also not opened shops. Due to this, less goods come to us. And the prices are a bit high due to the low supply of vegetables. I hope the prices will come down once the supply is normal after the holidays.”
Another vendor, Rajib, said: “I opened my shop today after the closure. I have not brought many vegetables here either. Because, there are only few customers. If the number of customers increases, I will bring more vegetables. I hope customers will start coming from Sunday.”
Meanwhile, Shariful Islam, a buyer, said: “Actually, the prices in the market are a little higher after Eid. This happens because the supply is low. And now, unless any buyer needs more, no one comes to the market. Most people did their shopping before the start of the holidays. Many are still in their village homes.”
He also expressed hope that everything will be fine once everyone leaves.
Ilish is being sold at Tk1,700-2,400 per kg depending on size, weight and quality. Apart from this, among other fish, rui fish is being sold at Tk400 per kg, catla fish at Tk450, shrimp at Tk750-800, kachki fish at Tk500, koi fish (farmed) at Tk250-300, pabda fish at Tk500, shing fish at Tk600-1,200, tengra fish at Tk700, boal fish at Tk800-1,200, chitol at Tk500-800, batasi fish at Tk1,200-1,400 and rupchanda fish at Tk1,200-1,400 per kg.
The prices of ginger, garlic and onion remain unchanged after Eid.
New “cross” onions are sold for Tk50-60 per kg, depending on quality and size. Of these, small onions are being sold for Tk50 and large onions for Tk60. And local onions are being sold for Tk60 per kg.
In addition, white potatoes are being sold for Tk20 per kg, red potatoes for Tk20. Potatoes from Bogura are being sold for Tk30 per kg. In addition, local garlic is being sold for Tk120, Chinese garlic for Tk180-200, Chinese ginger for Tk180-200 and Indian ginger for Tk120.
Although the presence of buyers in the market is low, broiler and “cock chicken” meat is being sold at high prices. Also, after shops started opening, most shops did not have layer or local chickens. Beef and mutton shops were also closed.
Broiler chicken is being sold in the market at Tk160-173 per kg, cock chicken at Tk275-280 and local chicken at Tk620-650 taka per kg.
And red eggs are selling at Tk115-120 per dozen and white eggs at Tk110 per dozen.
