Staff Reporter :
Prices of essential commodities at Banani Kitchen Market surged immediately after the Commerce Ministry’s market monitoring team departed on Thursday.
Vegetables, chicken, beef, and other staples, which had seen temporary price drops of Tk 15 to Tk 50 during the inspection, quickly returned to their inflated levels once the officials left.
The market inspection, led by Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Sultana Akhter, took place around 11 am. Magfur Rahman, Assistant Director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, and other officials were present to monitor compliance.
While the team was present, the market appeared to follow the ministry’s pricing standards.
Price lists were prominently displayed, showing beef at Tk 750 per kg, mutton at Tk 1,000, broiler chicken at Tk 200 per kg, Sonali chicken at Tk 280 per kg, eggs at Tk 160 per dozen, potatoes at Tk 55 per kg, green chili at Tk 280 per kg, local onions at Tk 115 per kg, and Indian onions at Tk 110 per kg.
However, shortly after the officials left, prices surged once more. Beef rose to Tk 780 per kg, broiler chicken to Tk 220 per kg, Sonali chicken to Tk 300 per kg, potatoes to Tk 60 per kg, local onions to Tk 120 per kg, and green chili to between Tk 300 and Tk 320 per kg.
Speaking to UNB, a trader expressed his frustration, saying, “We were forced to follow the ministry’s price list during the inspection to avoid fines, but selling at those prices means we can barely cover our costs.”
He explained that wholesale prices are higher than the mandated rates, placing retail traders in a difficult position. “The wholesale syndicate needs to be addressed first. Otherwise, we will continue to face these challenges,” he added.