Vegetable prices rise in Moulvibazar

Vegetable prices have risen sharply in Moulvibazar, adding to the financial burden on consumers already grappling with high prices of fish, poultry and other essentials.

While the prices of most staple commodities have remained largely unchanged compared with last week, almost all vegetables have become more expensive. Except for potatoes and green papaya, only a handful of vegetables are now available for less than Tk 100 per kg.

Traders have attributed the price hike to recent rain and flooding, although consumers say prices have not fallen despite improved weather over the past few days.

Pranoy Biswas, Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Kulaura Upazila, said the administration regularly monitors markets to prevent unreasonable price hikes and would take legal action, including mobile court drives, against traders found manipulating prices.

A visit to several markets in Moulvibazar town and nearby areas on Monday found round brinjals selling for Tk 100-120 per kg and long brinjals for Tk 80-90. Ridge gourd was priced at Tk 80-100 per kg.

At Uttar Bazar in Kulaura, bottle gourds were selling for Tk 80 each, yardlong beans for Tk 120 per kg, while tomatoes were scarce. Compared with last week, potatoes have increased from Tk 20 to Tk 30 per kg, while a set of four lemons now costs Tk 30, up from Tk 20. Green chillies are selling for Tk 300-400 per kg, green papaya for Tk 30-50, sweet pumpkin for Tk 30-60, kale for Tk 80-100, bitter gourd for Tk 100-150, and betel nut for Tk 40-80.

A few items have become slightly cheaper. Kachumukhi has dropped from Tk 80 to Tk 60 per kg, ginger from Tk 200 to Tk 150, kharkul from Tk 150 to Tk 100, while tomatoes and carrots have each fallen from Tk 200 to Tk 150 per kg.
Fish prices remain high, ranging from Tk 250 to Tk 600 per kg. Farmed shrimp costs more than Tk 700 per kg, while locally caught fish can fetch up to Tk 1,000 per kg. Tengra is selling for Tk 600-700 per kg, and farmed koi and pabda for Tk 300-400.

Despite being the peak Hilsa season, the popular fish is selling for around Tk 2,500 per kg due to limited supply. Pangas is available at Tk 200 per kg.
Indian tomatoes are selling for Tk 150 per kg, while onions imported from India have failed to reduce prices, with local mixed-variety onions still selling for Tk 35-40 per kg.

Broiler chicken is selling for Tk 175 per kg, native roosters for Tk 310-330, Golden chickens for Tk 280-300, and layer chickens for Tk 350 per kg. Eggs are priced at Tk 150 per dozen.

Consumers say soaring prices have made it increasingly difficult to manage household expenses. They allege that inadequate market monitoring has allowed some traders to raise prices arbitrarily.

“Vegetable prices have been rising for weeks, and very few items are available for less than Tk 80 to Tk 100 per kg. If this continues, ordinary people will suffer even more,” said Muktadir Hossain, a local consumer.

Daily wage earners said earning Tk 400-500 a day is no longer enough to cover essential household expenses. Many have also lost work because of recent rain and flooding, making it even harder to support their families.

Traders said the supply of locally grown vegetables has fallen after crops were damaged by heavy rain and floods. They are now sourcing produce from other districts at higher wholesale prices, which has pushed up retail prices and reduced the number of customers.