Prices of some major vegetables have witnessed a hike in Dhaka's kitchen markets on Monday compared to Sunday’s prices, augmenting the woes of consumers further.
However, prices of tomato and carrots declined by Tk 10 and Tk 5.0 per kg while some other vegetables remained static.
Meanwhile, prices of sugar, edible oil, and other essentials have not changed.
Potato, brinjal, coriander leaves, pumpkin, bean and bitter gourd saw a hike ranging from Tk 40 to Tk 2.0.
After visiting some of the city kitchen markets, this correspondent, however, found that prices of onion, ginger, garlic, Sonali and Pakistani chicken, egg, and other different essential spices remained stable compared to the last couple of days.
A vegetable vendor Rafique (nickname) at Mohammadpur Krishi Market told The Financial Express that prices of some vegetables like potato, brinjal, coriander leaves, pumpkin, bean and bitter gourd went up by Tk 40 to Tk 2.0 per kg on Monday compared to the Sunday’s prices.
He bought potato at Tk 21 per kg on Monday whereas the price of the item was Tk 19 on Sunday, Rafique said, adding that he was retailing potato at Tk 22 to 25 per kg.
Prices of all types of potato saw a hike of Tk 1.0 to Tk 2.0 since October 22, he pointed out.
The veg vendor was selling green chili at Tk 120 to Tk 130 each kg at retail price.
The wholesale price of bitter gourd was between Tk 250 to Tk 300 per five kg today whereas it was Tk 220 to Tk 250 five kg yesterday, he said, adding that he was retailing bitter gourd at Tk 70 to Tk 80 per kg.
When talking to this correspondent, Rafique said he was selling tomatoes at Tk 120-Tk 130 per kg at retail price today while he sold Tk 130 to Tk 140 per kg yesterday. Snake gourd was selling at Tk 50-60.
Rafique bought beans at Tk 500 per five kg at wholesale price on Sunday but he had to buy beans at Tk 550 per five kg today.
The vendor was retailing beans at Tk 130-140 per kg on the day.
He bought coriander leaves Tk 80 to Tk 120 per kg today while it was Tk 50 to Tk 60 per kg yesterday.
He bought Pumpkin (winter) Tk 1,000 for 30 pieces today whereas it was Tk 800 to Tk 900 for 30 pieces yesterday.
Round brinjal was sold at Tk 280 to Tk 300 per five kg today whereas it was Tk 240 to Tk 250 yesterday.
The price of long brinjal also witnessed an increase of Tk 10 per kg.
Radish was retailing at Tk 40 to Tk 45 per kg at those markets, according to the veg vendors.
Some other vegetable vendors at Adabor, Mohammadpur Krishi Market along with some mobile vendors also echoed the same price level.
Both the traders and vendors blamed flood situations in different parts of the country along with the Covid-19 for the soaring prices.
They pointed out that, supply constraints and spiraling prices in the international commodity market have also triggered the unstable situation in the local market.
The vendors also believe that there was likely a vested group, who are manipulating the prices of essentials, taking advantage and creating artificial crises in the market.
The activities to sell rice, pulses, edible oil, and sugar at regulated prices to tame the market have also been quite limited compared to the people’s needs.
Recently, in front of the government's mobile sales centres- which sell rice and daily necessities- the queues have reportedly been longer.
Akash, a wholesaler, said the prices of onion are ranging between Tk 42-Tk 65 in the wholesale market while ginger (imported) and local garlic are being sold at Tk 120 and Tk 50 respectively.
The prices of three important spices remained more static since the last couple of days, he added.
Rasel, a salesman at New Bismillah Broiler at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, told The FE that he was selling broiler chicken at Tk 190-Tk 195 a kg on the day.
Sonali and Pakistani chicken were sold at Tk 310 to Tk 320 per kg on Monday, he said, adding that a dozen of red eggs were sold at Tk 110.
Jabayer Hossain, a proprietor at Bikrampur Trading Corporation at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said that sugar (loose) was being sold at Tk 80-85 per kg.
Prices of other important spices, edible oil, pulses and flour remained unchanged, he added.
However, the government had fixed maximum retail prices of the sweetener at Tk 74-75 a kg on September 9.
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) is yet to conduct a nationwide survey on the poverty situation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The SANEM, a non-government organisation, said the poverty rate has almost doubled (42 per cent), a finding which has been rejected by the government.
The BBS reported in a telephone survey in October last year that people's incomes had fallen by as much as 20 per cent.