No good news for commoners: Prices of daily essentials still high

Staff Reporter :
Compared to the last week, the prices of some vegetables have fallen very slightly. Basically, the reduction does not have any considerable impact on the consumers as these vegetables were selling at high prices for a long time.

Moreover, the prices of vegetables are still high in the capital kitchen market in comparison with any time this year. However, the price of vegetables like eggplant and cucumber has increased.

The people of the country, who were expecting some measures by the government in the new budget to reduce prices daily essentials, have virtually disappointed. No such measures have been taken to minimise the sufferings the limited income group people by decreasing daily essentials price.

Private employee Enamul Haque while buying necessary goods for his family from Rampura Bazar told the New Nation that he was thinking the government would take initiatives to reduce prices of oil, sugar, lentils and others in the budget, but ultimately nothing was done. There is no good news in new budget for us, he continued.

On the other hand, the price of broiler chickens has dropped slightly in the capital’s kitchen markets.
Ginger and onion are also being sold at high prices.

Beef was sold at a price of Tk 780-800 last week. It was being sold at Tk 770-800 on Friday. .

Eggplants are sold at Tk 80-90 per kg, cucumber at Tk 80, bitter guards at Tk 70-75, papaya at Tk 60-70, carrot Tk 80-120, tomato Tk 100, sweet pumpkin Tk 40, orka Tk 60-70 Tk, pointed gourd Tk 80-100, chichinga Tk 60-100, dhundal Tk 70-90, green Chilli Tk 120, coriander Tk 100 per kg and gourd Tk 60-70 per piece.

Vegetable seller Eunus Hossain from Malibagh Bazar said that the price of vegetables has not increased much. The prices
of eggplant and cucumber have increased slightly. Rayhan Rahman, a student of a private university, said that the price of vegetables is very high. “I think, the price should be reduced more.”

Apart from this, potato is being sold at Tk 40, onion Tk 80-85, local ginger Tk 300, Chinese ginger Tk 360 and garlic at Tk 160-170 per kg.

Hilsa fishes are sold at a price of Tk 1200-1600, Rui fish Tk 450, Katal fish Tk 400-600, Kaliboush fish Tk 500, Shrimp fish Tk 900-1000, Kanchki fish Tk 500, Tengra fish Tk 600, Pabda fish Tk 450 taka per kg.

Besides, the price of broiler chicken is Tk 185-190, cock chicken Tk 253-260, local chicken Tk 650, beef Tk 770-800 per kg.
Mezbaur Rahman, a government employee who came to the market, said that the price of fish is still high. But the price of chicken has decreased slightly.

Jashim Uddin, a chicken seller, said the prices of broiler and cockerels have come down.

“Last week I sold broiler chickens at Tk 195-198 per kg. Today (Friday) I am selling the same for Tk 185-190,” he said.

Besides, the prices of products like sugar, oil, pulses was found unchanged in this week as before after visiting grocery stores.

However, the price of packet Polao rice has increased. Earlier, it was sold at Tk 150 per kg and now at Tk 165. Musar dal was sold at Tk 130, Mung dal Tk 120, Khesari dal Tk 80, Buter dal Tk 95, Chickpea Tk 85, Sugar Tk 130, Flour Tk 130 (2 kg packet), Open flour Tk 63, Soybean oil (packet) Tk 199, Open soybean oil is Tk 180 and open mustard oil is Tk 250 per litre.

Ibrahim, owner of a grocery store said that the price of grocery items is almost the same as before. However, the price of packet Polao rice has increased.

“Even after Eid, we used to sell it at Tk 150, now it is being sold at Tk 165 per kg,” he added.