Staff Reporter :
Onion prices continue to rise. In just two weeks, the price per kilogram has increased by around 20 taka. Additionally, this week, the price of bottled soybean oil has gone up by 14 taka per liter. Meanwhile, rice prices have remained high for quite some time.
Overall, for the lower and lower-middle-class families, the prices of several essential commodities in the market have become burdensome. The sudden increase in the prices of a few items has raised their household expenses.
This information was gathered on Friday by visiting various markets in the capital and speaking with both buyers and sellers.
However, there’s some relief in the poultry market, which was quite heated before Eid. The prices of vegetables have also decreased slightly compared to last week. Egg prices remain relatively stable.
Regarding the increase in onion prices, vendors explained that the prices were quite low this season. Due to a good harvest, local onions had dropped to as low as 30 taka per kg.
After that, the price rose slightly, reaching 45-50 taka per kg even after Eid. Now, the price has climbed to 60-65 taka.
Abul Khair Miah, a vendor at the Lalbagh kitchen market, said that since Eid, onion prices in the wholesale market have been increasing bit by bit almost every day. In total, the price has gone up by 20 taka per kg in the past two weeks. Currently, onions are being sold wholesale at 54 to 58 taka per kg.
Meanwhile, since last Tuesday, the price of soybean oil has increased by 14 taka per liter, and palm oil by 12 taka per liter.
According to the new prices, a liter of bottled soybean oil now costs 189 taka, up from 175 taka. A five-liter bottle of soybean oil is now priced at 922 taka, which was previously 852 taka.
Along with bottled oil, the new price for loose soybean and palm oil is 169 taka per liter, up from 157 taka.
Ahasan Uddin, a customer at the Hatirpool kitchen market, said, ‘Onion prices have risen by 20 taka per kg and oil prices by 14 taka per liter. That alone increases a family’s expenses by nearly 200 taka just for these two items. How are we, the middle-middle-class people, supposed to adjust our expenses?’
However, there is now some relief in the meat market. About a week before Eid, meat prices began to rise. At that time, broiler chicken was selling at 210-230 taka per kg. Similarly, Sonali breed chickens were selling at 300-330 taka per kg. On Thursday, broiler chicken was being sold at 170-180 taka per kg, and Sonali chickens at 270-280 taka per kg.
Similarly, the price of beef has slightly decreased. Before Eid, beef was selling at 780-800 taka per kg. Now it is available for 750 taka per kg.
For the past several weeks, the price of eggs has remained relatively stable. A dozen farm eggs are being sold at 120-130 taka. The price has hovered around this range for about a month.”
