Rice, vegetables prices up, consumers in limbo

Consumers in the city still facing high prices for vegetables, rice and other major essential food items, while unchanged fish, meat, and egg prices deepen daily household financial burdens.

Vegetable prices typically begin to fall as winter approaches and supplies of seasonal produce increase, but the expected decline is yet to materialise, leaving consumers struggling to manage daily expenses. Visits to several kitchen markets in the capital on Friday revealed this persistent pressure.

Vendors state that supplies of winter vegetables remain limited because the season has not fully begun, though prices may ease in the coming weeks as more seasonal produce reaches the markets.

A market survey shows that new potatoes sell at Tk140-160 per kg, while old potatoes cost Tk30. Green chillies price at Tk120 per kg, round eggplants at Tk100, long eggplants at Tk60-80, bitter gourds at Tk80-100, beans at Tk80-120 depending on variety, cucumbers at Tk100, and carrots at Tk100.

Cauliflowers sell at Tk50-80 per kg, depending on size, while ridge gourds, pointed gourds, snake gourds, okra, and radishes cost Tk60 per kg.

Fish prices also remain largely unchanged, with most varieties selling at elevated rates. Rohu sells at Tk280-380 per kg, large tilapia at Tk180-200, silver carp and grass carp at Tk180-200, and pangas at Tk160-250.

Katla prices at Tk350-380 per kg, farmed koi at Tk200-220, and pabda at Tk380-420. Ilish remains beyond the reach of many consumers, selling at Tk800-2,300 per kg, while larger fish cost more than Tk2,600 per kg.

Meanwhile, a dozen brown eggs sell at Tk145-150, and white eggs cost Tk130-135, adding further to daily expenses.

Meat prices also remain unchanged from the previous week. Broiler chicken sells at Tk170-190 per kg and Sonali chicken at Tk240-330. Beef costs Tk800-850 per kg, and mutton commands Tk1,200-1,250.
Sakil Rahman, a vegetable seller at Townhall market, notes that supplies of fresh winter vegetables remain limited.

He expects prices to fall once new vegetables start arriving in the markets and supplies increase further. Sheikh Nayeem, a shopper at Mohammadpur market, expresses frustration that high prices make it difficult for ordinary consumers to buy vegetables and fish. He states that he cannot afford many vegetables and warns that running a household will become impossible if prices continue to rise like this.