Essential prices up again in Kishoreganj

Prices of several essential commodities, including rice, edible oil, sugar, flour and eggs, have increased again over the past 10 days, putting further pressure on consumers struggling to make ends meet.

Companies have reduced supplies of bottled edible oil and sugar, resulting in shortages at many retail outlets, according to market sources. Sugar was sold at Tk 115-120 per kg in the retail markets of Kishoreganj town on Wednesday, up by around Tk 10 in a week.

The maximum retail price (MRP) printed on branded packets of sugar had also been raised to Tk 120 from Tk 110 per kg.

Refiners have also increased the price of packaged sugar by Tk 10 per kg without prior notice. Despite the price hike, sugar is unavailable at many shops as supplies have declined sharply.

Assistant Director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) in Kishoreganj, Shafiul Islam, said the DNCRP was continuing active market monitoring across kitchen markets in the district to curb price hikes of daily essentials.

Shawpon Kairi, a wholesaler at Kishoreganj’s Bara Bazar, said the price hike was mainly due to higher mill-gate prices. Supplies of sugar from mills have also declined compared with earlier.

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Executive President Mala Bhaumik said businessmen were taking advantage of the fuel crisis to exploit consumers. “It has become difficult for people with limited incomes to run their families. The prices of daily necessities are continuously increasing due to a lack of regular and effective market monitoring,” she said.

Meanwhile, the supply of edible oil has also fallen in the market. Although the price of loose soybean oil has increased, the price of bottled soybean oil has yet to change, while its supply has declined.

He alleged that companies had reduced supplies in preparation for a price hike. “As a result, we are unable to meet the demand for bottled edible oil,” he said.

Loose soybean oil was sold at Tk 185-190 per litre, while loose palm oil was priced at Tk 170-180 per litre.

The price of packaged refined flour (maida) increased to Tk 80 per kg, compared with Tk 75-78 a week ago.

Vegetable prices, however, declined slightly. Most vegetables were selling at Tk 60-80 per kg, while tomatoes and carrots were priced as high as Tk 140-150 per kg.

The price of green chillies returned to a normal level, with the vegetable selling at Tk 75-80 per kg in retail markets in the town.

Meanwhile, onion prices remained largely unchanged for several weeks, with the commodity selling at Tk 50-55 per kg depending on quality. Potato prices also remained stable at Tk 25-30 per kg.
Egg prices increased further, with eggs selling at Tk 144-150 per dozen.

Broiler chicken was sold at Tk 185-190 per kg, while Sonali chicken was priced at Tk 330-350 per kg. Beef remained stable at Tk 800-850 per kg.