Sr. Staff Reporter, Kishoreganj :
The prices of onions, eggs, chicken, green chilli , and vegetables have gone up in the past 10 days in Kishoreganj kitchen markets.
Onions has reached Tk 80-85 per kg, increasing by Tk 25 to 30 in just a week and by Tk 20-25 per kg in two weeks.
Egg prices have increased to Tk 140-l45 per dozen on Thursday . A week ago, it was Tk 135-140, and two weeks ago, it was Tk 120-125 per dozen.
At the same time, vegetable prices have increased by Tk 15-20 per kg in a week.
Businessmen says, a shortage in supply due to heavy rain in the vegetable-producing areas has triggered the price rise.
Broiler and Pakistani chicken prices have also increased by Tk 15-20 per kg this week, reaching Tk 200-210 per kg and Tk 320-330 per kg respectively, traders say.
Md. Rajon , a onion shop owner in kishoreganj ‘s Bara Bazar , said that, Onion prices have been rising slowly. Wholesale onion prices have gone up by Tk 7.0-8.0 per kg in a week, and by Tk 15-18 per kg in two weeks.
Abdur Rashid , a spice wholesaler says Onion prices have increased a lot in local agricultural markets of Rajbari, Dinajpur Faridpur, and Pabna. He says that big traders in these districts are holding back supply, expecting prices to rise even more.
He also says that local onion production is not very good this year, which could make things worse for consumers.
According to him, imports have almost stopped now, but importing onions is necessary to manage any shortage in the market.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), President of Kishoreganj said that, when the products go from the hands of farmers to the traders, they control of entire kitchen market.
CAB is blaming the lack of proper market monitoring and , the government should allow more imports now. Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) expects the production to be 3.6 million tonnes this year. Green chilli sales per kg tk.200.
Shaheed , a vegetable seller said that, rain has disrupted the supply of many vegetables. He also says that the season for some vegetables has ended as farmers are now preparing to grow early winter crops. Prices of rice, river fish, and beef are still high and unchanged.
