Staff Reporter :
The price of vegetables continue to rise along with coarse ricefish, egg, onion, chicken in the city’s kitchen market intensifying pressure on consumers specially fixed income group families.
The winter vegetables started to reach in the capital kitchen market without making any good news and hope for city dwellers as prices are beyond the capacity to buyers.
On a visit to several kitchen markets, New Market, Hatirpool, Palashi, killer Mor, Karwan Bazar, Rampura, in Dhaka on Friday this correspondent observed that the price of coarse rice has increased by Tk2-5 per kilogram.
Palashi Bazar Sajib rice agency owner Shabuddin said coarse BR-28 rice price has increased by Tk2-3 per kg and being sold at Tk54-55 where one week earlier it was Tk51-52.
He also said fine rice is being sold at previous price at Tk68-72.
Moreover, there was no vegetable under Tk50 except Papaya. The price of potato is increased by Tk10 per kg within one week and being sold at Tk60.
Round eggplants were being sold at Tk100, bulbous root at Tk100, cucumbers at Tk80, bitter melons at Tk80, pointed gourd at Tk50-60, spiny gourd at Tk100, snake gourd at Tk50-60, sponge gourd at Tk50-60, carrots at Tk120, radish at Tk80, tomatoes at Tk100, beans at Tk150, green chilli at Tk240 and coriander leaves at Tk200.
Moreover, local onions were priced at Tk100 per kg, cross-variety onions at Tk90 per kg, Indian onions at Tk45-50 per kg and potatoes at Tk50 per kg.
Broiler and vegetable prices in Dhaka’s kitchen markets have gone up in a week, with Ananda Bazar, Azimpur, KellarMor and New Market traders blaming supply shortages.
Traders were selling broilers at Tk220 or more, compared to Tk190 to Tk200 last week.
The buyer, seller and market analyst said that the government policy to control the market by fixing price is completely failed. DNCRP said it is time to rethink about the policy.
The government fixed rate to sell product bears no value because it never implement in the market and it has no reality.
So, the government fixed rate policy proved it is absolutely failed as well as the government also said a general store owner in Kellar Mour bazar.
Traders at Azimpur kitchen market were selling broilers at Tk220 per kg; the price was the same in New Market and Palashi Bazar. Meanwhile, Ananda Bazar and Kellar Mour traders were selling it for Tk210.
Furthermore, the prices of Sonali and local breeds of chickens remained at Tk300 and Tk550, the same as last week.
Retailers attributed the rise in broiler prices to hikes in the wholesale market.
They believe prices will likely drop soon.
Shahriar Alam, a chicken trader in Ananda Bazar, said the wholesale price of broilers has risen to Tk190, up from Tk175-180 just a day ago.
As a result, retailers are forced to sell chicken at a higher price.
Buyers expressed their disappointment with the broiler prices.
BakiBillah, a buyer at Azimpur Bazar, said: “Every week, sellers keep raising the prices in various ways.
Broiler prices shot up last week and the week before, and once it go up, does not seem to come down.”
Besides, Hilsha was being sold at Tk1,000-1,600 per kg, Carp at Tk400-600, Katla at Tk400-600, Ganges river sprat or kachki at Tk500, local Gangetic koi (koi) at Tk600-800, butterfish at Tk400, tilapia at Tk250 and yellowtail catfish at Tk200.
