Commodities get cheaper this Ramadan than last year
Business Report :
City dwellers have expressed some comfort as they are getting most of the essentials, particularly the kitchen and grocery items, at cheaper and affordable prices compared to last year.
Visiting several key kitchen markets, including Karwan Bazar, Khilgaon Taltola Market, Fakirapool Bazar, Motijheel AGB Colony Kacha Bazar and Shantinagar Bazar on Wednesday morning, it was found that buyers are generally able to get what they need according to their purchasing power.
Due to a series of precautious measures from the high-ups of the government and strict market supervision and monitoring by the government’s several agencies most of the essentials including sugar, grass peas, dates, onions, cucumbers, potatoes, tomatoes, eggs, garlic, green and dry chillies, ginger, and isabgol, are available at cheaper prices compared to Ramadan 2024.
In the last couple of years, people had to bear too much for buying essentials, particularly the kitchen and grocery items.
This year, before the holy month of Ramadan to ensure cheaper prices the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has removed VAT on several essential goods including dates.
The items include mustard oil, flour, semolina, lentils, LPG, biscuits, salt, and hot spices, among others.
VAT exemptions have been granted at the production stage and, in some cases, at the business stage for these products.
The board has also reduced the import duty on essential commodities such as dates, rice, pulses, sugar and oil to zero.
Khalad hossan , a resident of the Modhubag area, said the prices of most grocery items are satisfactory as supply is available.
During the visit to the city’s several markets, it was found that farm chicken is being sold at Tk 180-190 per kg, Sonali at Tk 300-310 per kg and local chicken at Tk 550-580 per kg, respectively-Tk 10-30 per kg lower than last year.
Mutton (Khasi) is being sold at around TK 1100 per kg and beef at Tk 750-850 per kg. The prices also Tk 30-50 lower than the previous year.
On the other hands, sugar is being sold at Tk 120-125 per kg, down from Tk 140-150 last year.
The price of normal dates has fallen to Tk 180-200 per kg from Tk220-250, while mid-range and premium quality dates are being sold at Tk 450-800 and Tk 1,000-1,800, respectively-Tk 30-200 per kg lower than last year.
Local onions are now available at Tk 40-45 per kg, significantly lower than last year’s Tk 100-120.
Potatoes are being sold at Tk 20-30 per kg, compared to Tk 25-35 last year. Amir Hossan, a seller of grocery items, said, the price of the grocery items is lower than the previous year due to the government’s monitoring activities.