Prices of daily essentials still high

Staff Reporter :
Within seven days the price of fine rice increased by Tk 2 to Tk 3 per kilogram and the price of broiler chicken raised by Tk 10. On the other hand, the vegetables price are also showing upward trend as almost all items price increased by Tk 5 to Tk10 for per kg.
After visiting few markets in capital Dhaka on Friday the situation was seen.
In the rice market, the fine rice is being sold at an additional price of two to three taka. There is no impact of ‘Aaman’ rice as its season is going on.
Malibagh bazar rice trader Halim Chowdhury said most of ‘Aaman’ season rice is coarse rice. For this reason, in this time the coarse rice price did not increase, but due to short supply the fine rice price hike.
There is no impact on the market whereas the government has withdrawn duties to import rice until March 31 to keep the market stable.
In the market, Miniket rice is being sold at Tk 68 to Tk 75 (based on quality). Good qualities Nazirshile rice is being sold at Tk 75 to Tk 85.
The egg price per dozen sells at Tk 130 in the capital, whereas two weeks ago it was sold at Tk 115-120.
Karwan Bazar egg trader Ezzazul Hoque said short supply in whole sale market as the main reason. As a result, the egg price rose by Tk 10-15 per dozen.
The price of broiler chicken is now being sold at Tk 155 to Tk 165 whereas earlier it was Tk 145 to Tk 155 per kg while Pakistani variety of chicken is Tk 260 per kg
As such, none knows when these food items will return to the comfort.
In the market it was seen that the loose sugar is being sold at Tk 110 to Tk 115 per kg while the government rate is Tk 102 and Tk 107 respectively.
 Prices of vegetables including cauliflower, beans, cabbage, radish, brinjal, green pepper, papaya, and potato have gone down by five taka to 15 taka 15 per kg at the weekend.
Early varieties of beans, which were sold at Tk 200 per kg, are now being sold at Tk40 per kg. Green chili sells at Tk120 per kg. Prices of leafy vegetables including spinach in the Karwan Bazar and Moghbazar kitchen markets have also dropped five taka from 15 taka per bundle.
Visiting the markets in the capital on Friday, it was seen that the supply of winter vegetables has increased.
In Karwan Bazar, brinjal is being sold at Tk 25 to Tk 35, beans at Tk 35 to Tk 40, green chilli at Tk 40 to Tk 50, radish at Tk 35, new variety of potato at Tk 30, carrot at Tk 50
and bitter gourd at Tk 30. Mohammad Mustafa, a vegetable seller of Kalyanpur Bazar, said that the price of vegetables has decreased.
Mohammad Rubel Hossain, a vegetable seller at Karwan Bazar, said while the prices of vegetables have decreased, the prices of other daily necessities have not.
Vegetables have been grown reportedly high in Rangpur, Bogura, Dinajpur, Munshiganj, Pabna, Jashore, Jamalpur, Narsingdi, Jhenaidah and Rajshahi. As a result, most markets now have an ample supply of winter vegetables including cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, radish, turnip, beans, tomato, onion leaves, gourd, broccoli, beans, carrot and coriander.
Ali Hossain, a salesman of Yasin General Store, Karwan Bazar, said, price of aromatic rice has increased by six taka per kg.
“We are buying at a wholesale price of Tk 132, which was Tk 128. We are new selling at Tk 134 only,” he said.
In his shop, small grain lentils are priced at Tk 140 per kg, packed two Kg flour at Tk 145 and bottled soybean oil at Tk 192 per litre whereas the government has decreased Tk 5 per litter.
In the meat market, beef is selling at Tk 680 to Tk 700 while red meat is Tk 900-1,000. Walking fish Tk 900 per Kilo,Pabda at Tk 350 and Boal Machh at Tk 1100 per Kg.