Ramadan months away, 6 essentials get costlier
Prices of six essential commodities including chickpeas, edible oil, onions, lentils, sugar and dates – have started rising in Dhaka’s retail markets, with four months still to go before Ramadan.
Price surge adding to the financial strain on consumers already struggling with high living costs.
Prices have increased despite no corresponding rise in people’s incomes, leaving households grappling with the rising costs of food, cooking gas and everyday essentials.
A visit to several retail markets in the capital on Friday found that chickpeas were selling at Tk 125 per kg, up from Tk 110 a week earlier. Loose soybean oil was priced at Tk 200 per litre, compared with Tk 195 a week ago.
Domestic onions were selling at Tk 60 per kg, up from Tk 55 just three days earlier, while premium small-grain lentils rose to Tk 165 per kg from Tk 160.
Loose sugar was selling for up to Tk 120 per kg, compared with Tk 115 two weeks ago. The price of Mabroom dates jumped to Tk 1,300 per kg from Tk 1,000 just a week earlier.
Consumers fear that prices could climb
further as demand for Ramadan essentials increases in the coming months.
Mohammad Abu Saleh, who was shopping at Karwan Bazar on Friday, said he regularly bought chickpeas and dates for his children but was shocked by the latest price increases.
He said chickpeas had become Tk 15-20 more expensive per kg, while dates had risen by Tk 300 per kg in just a week. He expressed concern that prices of other essential commodities were also rising well ahead of Ramadan.
Businessman Mohammad Akbar Ali of Karwan Bazar attributed the increases in onion, lentil, sugar and chickpea prices partly to higher transportation costs following a rise in fuel prices.
He also said lower commissions on bottled soybean oil and reduced supplies from mills had increased demand for loose soybean oil, pushing up its price.
However, he said prices could ease if supplies increased.
SM Nazer Hossain, vice-president of the central committee of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), said consumers were already facing excessive prices for essential goods despite stagnant incomes.
He warned that traders appeared to be raising prices of Ramadan-dependent commodities well ahead of the holy month and called on the government to examine whether the increases were justified.
The early price hikes have raised concerns about affordability for low- and middle-income households, with consumers fearing further pressure on family budgets as Ramadan approaches.
