Prices of pulses increased notably in a week, adding to the woes of common people already battered by the rising prices of other essential commodities.
Largely, consumed lentils, mung beans and khesari (L sativus) witnessed a hike by Tk 10-20 a kg in the retail market in the last seven days, said grocers.
Imported (Australian, Canadian) coarse lentil prices increased to Tk 90-100, local finer lentil Tk 115-120 and imported Nepalese lentils to Tk 135-145 a kg in the retail market during the period.
Coarse mung bean remained static at Tk 105-115 a kg but the finer quality of it increased to Tk 145-155 a kg.
The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) recorded a maximum 17 per cent hike in prices of common pulses in a week.
However, black gram (mashkalai), green pea (motor) and chickpea prices remained static.
Traders claimed rising import prices caused the hike in the local market.
The recent heavy rain in the Chattogram region also caused a delay in supply, resulting in a surge in prices, they said.
Habib Ahsan Milton, a grocer at Modhubazar in West Dhanmondi, told the FE that prices of lentils increased by Tk 8.0-10 a kg at the Moulovibazar wholesale market in the city over the last one and a half weeks.
He said mung and khesari prices also showed a Tk 6.0-8.0 a kg hike in the market during the period.
Jamiar Rahman, a pulses trader at Chwak Bazar in the city, said prices had risen at Khatunganj wholesale market in Chattogram, leaving an impact in other markets elsewhere.
Import cost rose 10-15 per cent recently while delay in release of product from the port also put an impact in the market, he said.
Mr Rahman also mentioned that almost static production of lentil, khesari and mung bean in the country played a role in rising prices during off seasons.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, annual production of different kinds of pulses in the country is only 0.45 million tonnes, of which lentils and khesari account for 0.2 and 0.12 million tonnes, respectively.
The country's annual import of pulse is 0.8-0.9 million tonnes - of the total, lentil comprises 0.48 million tonnes while chickpea 0.2 million tonnes, according to the commerce ministry.
The country imports lentils and chickpeas of different qualities in a large volume mainly from Australia, Canada, Nepal and India.
Meanwhile, prices of some vegetables and eggs witnessed a slight hike further last week.
Brinjal, long-yard beans and all kinds of leafy witnessed a Tk 5-10 hike per kg or bunch in a week which traders attributed to recent heavy rain and flood in some districts.
Egg prices increased to Tk 110-115 a dozen - Tk 5.0-6.0 hike per dozen in a week, said grocers.
Rice, sugar, eating oil, fish, meat and other essential prices remained almost static, maintaining their previous high.
