Prices of some vegetables have seen a further hike in Dhaka's kitchen markets today (Monday) compared to Sunday’s ones, augmenting the woes of consumers.
However, prices of three important spices -- onion, ginger and garlic -- have remained static.
On the other hand, prices of broiler and Sonali and Pakistani chickens have seen a slight decrease while egg price remained steady.
The state-run Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) in its daily report on Monday stated that the prices of green chili, beef, egg, local sugar, salt (packed), lentil, onion and flour are Tk 117-Tk 128 per kg, Tk 552-Tk 571 per kg, Tk 35-Tk 36 (four pieces), Tk 28-Tk 31, at Tk 105-Tk 111 per kg, and Tk 36-Tk 38 per kg respectively.
After visiting some city kitchen markets, this correspondent also found that prices of sugar, edible oil, potatoes, and other different essential spices were seen stable compared to the last couple of days.
A mobile vegetable vendor told The Financial Express (FE) that prices of some vegetables like tomatoes, bitter gourd and lemons went up ranging from Tk 1.0 to Tk 10.
He bought five kg tomatoes at Tk 700 on Monday from Kawran Bazar which was Tk 620 to Tk 650 on Sunday.
He is selling tomatoes at Tk 150-Tk 160 per kg.
The price of bitter gourd weighing five kg has increased by Tk 50 in wholesale markets. The vegetable vendor bought bitter gourd Tk 56 per kg and now selling it at Tk 70 per kg in retail level.
However, the prices of vegetables declined compared to last week, he said.
Price of per piece lemon was Tk 3.5 on Sunday though it was Tk 2.5 earlier, the vendor said on Monday.
He bought five kg of green chili at Tk 450 from a wholesale market and was selling the item at Tk 110 to Tk 120 per kg.
The prices of five kg of beans remained at Tk 420 and the item was selling at Tk 110 per kg, he said, adding that at the same time, the price of pumpkin stands at Tk 30 each in wholesale market. He was selling pumpkin at Tk 40-Tk 50 each.
The price of five kg of snake gourd was Tk 150 at wholesale level. He was selling snake gourd at Tk 40-Tk 50 per kg.
Some others vegetable vendors at Adabor, Mohammadpur Krishi Market along with some mobile vendors also echoed the same price level.
Both traders and vendors blamed the soaring prices for flood situations in different parts of the country along the Covid-19 crisis.
They also believe that there was likely a vested group, who are manipulating the prices of essentials, taking the advantages and creating the artificial crises in the market.
Akash, a wholesaler, said the prices of onion are ranging between Tk 42-Tk 65 in wholesale while ginger (imported) and local garlic are 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 170-175 a kg on the day while the price was Tk 175-Tk 180 per kg.
Sonali and Pakistani chicken were sold at Tk 320-330 per kg on Sunday while the price was Tk 300-Tk3 10, he said, adding that a dozen of eggs was sold at Tk 110.
Jabayer Hossain, a proprietor at Bikrampur Trading Corporation at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said that sugar (loose) was selling at Tk 80-85 per kg.
Other important spices, edible oil, pulses, flour and potatoes remained unchanged, he added.
However, the government fixed maximum retail prices of the sweetener at Tk 74-75 a kg on September 9.
