Ramadan Market: Fruit prices surge amid supply pressures

Staff Reporter :

As the holy month of Ramadan begins, prices of nearly all domestic and imported fruits have raised sharply in the capital’s markets.

Imported fruits such as apples and mangoes have seen price hikes of approximately Tk40–60 per kilogram, while domestic fruits like bananas and plums have become Tk 20–50 more expensive.

On Wednesday, domestic bananas were selling at Tk150 per dozen, up from Tk120 previously. Popular varieties such as Sagar and Sabri bananas are priced between Tk150–160 per dozen, while Bengali bananas range from Tk100–120.

Other domestic fruits have also become costlier: watermelon now costs Tk70–90 per kg, guava Tk100–150 per kg, pineapple Tk40–60 per kg, plums Tk120–200 per kg, and papaya Tk80–100 per kg. Most of these price increases have occurred in the last two to three days. Among imported fruits, dates, mangoes, and apples are in highest demand during Ramadan. Malt has surged to Tk320–360 per kg, while apples are selling at Tk360–400 per kg.

Traders attribute the rising prices to increased Ramadan demand and disruptions in supply caused by recent elections. They also face additional pressure from repeated hikes in transportation costs, which have significantly raised the overall cost of bringing fruits to market.

A fruit seller in Rampura said, “Many buyers come during Ramadan, but wholesale supplies are limited. We have no choice but to purchase fruits at Tk20–50 higher than usual.”

Meanwhile, buyer Mohiuddin Chowdhury observed, “It is customary for prices to rise before Ramadan, and this year is no different. Strong government monitoring is necessary to protect consumers.”

The sharp and unregulated increase in fruit prices ahead of Ramadan has become a concern for both consumers and sellers, highlighting the need for better market oversight and supply management during the festive season.