CHATTOGRAM: Unscrupulous traders are in a desperate move to increase the prices of essential commodities in the port city markets with the holy month of Ramadan still far away.
The traders have already raised the prices of some daily essentials, especially rice, oil, chicken, green chili, cucumber and beef, well ahead of the holy month of fasting which will begin on March 23, subject to moon sighting.
While visiting different kitchen markets of the city on Saturday, this correspondent found that a kilogram of green chilli was selling at Tk180-200 which was Tk140 to150 last week while per kg cucumber was selling at Tk50 to 60 which was Tk28to30 and beef was selling at Tk850 to 900 per kg which was Tk 700 to 800 one week ago.
The price of rice has been increased by Tk 4 to 8 per kg in the current week.
The rice of miniket variety was retailing at Tk70 to 75 per kg as against Tk65 to 68 one week back.
The medium quality rice was available at Tk55 to 60 per kg while the price was Tk50 to 55 last week.
The price of flour was Tk78 to 80 per kg while it was Tk72 last week.
Soybean oil was selling at Tk875 to 885 per five kg bottle while it was available at Tk860 last week.
The price of ginger was Tk90 to 95 per kg as against Tk85 last week while that of sugar was Tk118 to 120 instead of Tk112 last week.
Broiler chicken was selling at Tk 220 per kg while the price was Tk150 last week. Local variety chicken was selling at Tk 500 per kg while the price was Tk440 last week.
Sonali variety chicken was found at Tk 320 per kg while the price was Tk260 in the previous week.
The price of coral fish was Tk800 per kg while it was Tk 600 earlier.
Ruhit fish was available at Tk 400 per kg while it was found at Tk300 last week.
Prices of all types of fish have increased from Tk80 to100 in the current week.
Despite showing the price lists in front of the shops, retailers in different markets were seen selling sugar, edible oil, gram (Chhola), onion, brinjal and potato at higher prices than those on the lists.
Talking to The Financial Express, some buyers alleged that the traders have taken a new policy for hiking the prices of essentials.
Mizanur Rahman, a buyer at Kajir Dewri Market, said, "The traders have started to hike the prices of essentials from the first week of the current month. Prices of most of the essentials have already been hiked before Shab-E-Barat. As a result, nobody can say that the prices are being hiked largely. But, the buyers are suffering a lot due to the rampant price surge."
Traders at the retail level said they are not involved with price hike.
Narendra Nath, a retailer at Reazuddin Bazar, said, "We are buying the commodities from wholesale markets at the increased prices and that is why are forced to sell them keeping at least 10-15 per cent profit."
