Weekly kitchen market: Prices of daily necessities remain high
Staff Reporter :
Although the holidays of the Eid-ul-Fitr are over, the different kitchen markets in the capital have not returned to their previous state as the presence of buyers is comparatively low.
Even on the weekly holiday, almost all kitchen markets in Dhaka were somewhat deserted, but the prices of daily necessities, including vegetables and meats, have not decreased.
On the contrary, the prices of some products have increased. For example, the prices of potatoes and onions have increased by 5-10 taka. Potatoes are being sold at 35-40 taka per kilogram, and onions at 45-50 taka.
Due to increased demand, squash and eggplants are being sold for 60-80 taka. On the other hand, sugar is still being sold at 130-135 taka.
Visiting different kitchen markets in the capital city where green chillies are being sold for 80-90 taka, bitter gourd for 60-65, ridge gourd, pointed gourd and chichinga for 50-70, tomatoes for 45-50, papaya for 55-60, carrots for 80-120, and a kilogram of taro root is being sold for 60 taka.
In addition to this, bottle gourd and ash gourd are being sold for 50-60 taka, cauliflower is being sold for 50 taka per piece, and cabbage is being sold for 50-60 taka.
On the other hand, depending on their size, four pieces of lemons are being sold for 30-50 taka. Furthermore, raw jackfruits are being sold for 145-150 taka per piece.
Vegetable seller in Karwan Bazar Anwar said, “Supply and demand in the market are low, but the prices have not decreased.
Rather, the prices of many vegetables have increased. Most vegetables are being sold at the same price as before. Currently, there is a slightly higher demand for cucumbers and lemons. The market for other vegetables is the same as before.”
On the other hand, broiler chickens are being sold at Tk 250 to Tk 270 per kilogram, while Pakistani layer chickens are being sold at Tk 440. Sonali chickens are being sold at Tk 350 to Tk 360.
The price of eggs has also increased. In the market, a dozen almonds colored eggs from the farm are being sold for Tk 125 to Tk 130, and white eggs are being sold for Tk 115 to Tk 120.
In a week’s time, the price of a dozen eggs of these two types has increased by Tk 5 to Tk 10. However, the price of duck and native chicken eggs is being sold at the previous price.
The price of beef has also increased like chicken and eggs. In the market, the price of beef per kilogram is being sold at 800 taka, which is a 50 taka increase from before. On the other hand, the price of mutton is being sold at 1,000 taka to 1,100 taka.
Although the price of meat has increased, the price of fish has decreased somewhat. In the fish market in Dhaka, it can be seen that large-sized Rupchanda is being sold for between 950 and 1,100, while smaller Rupchanda is being sold for between 450 and 600 taka.
The price of shrimp varies depending on their size, with 220 to 300 taka per kilogram for Chingri, 400 to 500 taka per kilogram for Deshi Shing, 450 taka per kilogram for Deshi Magur, 280 to 400 taka per kilogram for Pabda, 180 to 350 taka per kilogram for Rui, 200 to 250 taka per kilogram for Mola, and 250 to 280 taka per kilogram for Kanchki.
The prices of daily necessities such as rice, lentils, flour, and soybean haven’t decreased. They remain stable at high prices. The supply of sugar is low in the market, and it is being sold at higher prices than before.
When asked why the prices are still high despite the low supply and demand in the market, shop keeper Abdullah said, “Just like there are few customers, there is also little supply.
I am selling sugar for 135 taka before Eid, and I am still selling it for the same price. There is no sugar available in the wholesale market. They say the companies are not supplying sugar. Other products are being sold at the same price as before.”
