Rain, supply shortage push up vegetable, flour, aromatic rice prices
A combination of persistent rainfall and severe supply chain disruptions has triggered a fresh wave of price hikes across retail markets in the capital, leaving consumers, small business owners, and middle-income families under mounting financial strain.
A market survey conducted on Friday across key retail hubs, including, Mohammadpur and Townhall market, revealed a sharp rise in vegetable prices by Tk 20 to Tk 40 per kilogram.
Round brinjal topped the list at Tk 140 per kg, while yardlong beans reached Tk 120 per kg. Green chillies were retailed at Tk 160 per kg, carrots at Tk 140 per kg, and most gourds (pointed, sponge, ridge, and snake) hovered between Tk 80 and Tk 100 per kg.
Papaya remained the sole budget-friendly option at Tk 30 per kg. Retailers attributed the surge to crop damage and transport bottlenecks caused by recent inclement weather.
The price of broiler chicken retailing at Tk 190-200 per kg. Beef is selling at Tk 800-820 a kg.
A dozen red eggs now costs Tk 150-160. However, the prices of mutton (Tk 1,200-1,250 per kg) and goat meat (Tk 1,100 per kg) .
Compounding the crisis, essential staple prices have also spiked.
Unpackaged wheat flour (atta) rose to Tk 50 per kg from Tk 45 last week, while refined flour (maida) jumped to Tk 80-85 per kg.
Despite government measures halving export quotas,
Aromatic rice prices surged by Tk 20 per kg within a week, with premium loose varieties retailing at Tk 200 per kg and packaged brands fetching between Tk 220 and Tk 240 per kg.
Meanwhile, The supply situation has remained tight even after the government recently approved a Tk5.0 a litre increase in the price of bottled soybean oil. Traders had sought a Tk 10 increase.
Loose soybean oil was sold at Tk 185-190 a litre, marking Tk 5.0-10 a litre hike in a week. Palm oil price also surged by Tk 5.0 a litre to Tk 175-180 a litre.
The sharp escalation in raw material costs has hit commercial bakeries and catering businesses hard.
Kawser, manager of ‘Biriyani Wala’ in Mohammadpur, noted that despite raising the price of chicken polao from Tk 120 to Tk 150 per packet, sustaining business margins remains increasingly difficult.
Afsana, another buyer, shared that rising grocery bills and increased electricity costs are placing a heavy, compounding financial strain on middle-income households each month.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), overall inflation stood at 8.26 percent in August, with food inflation at 7.02 percent. Although official data suggests a slight easing in overall inflation compared to July, consumers report no tangible relief at the ground level.
