Prices of two essential commodities declined on Sunday but most other necessary items, including rice, remained static maintaining their previous high.
Increased vegilence by concerned government agencies helped reduce prices of onion, one of the main cooking ingredients, said traders.
Onion was sold at Tk 50-60 per kilogram (kG) at retail markets yesterday which was Tk 60-70 a kg on Saturday.
Prices of the spice crop were Tk 38-45 per kg at wholesale markets including Shyambazar, Jatrabari, Beribandh and Karwan Bazar.
Prices of pulses decreased slightly as coarse lentil was selling at Tk 80-85 per kg on the day and finer quality at Tk 120-140 -- Tk 5-10 decline.
Potato prices remained static at Tk 25-35 a kg depending on variety.
Bottled soybean oil remained almost static but loose soybean witnessed a Tk 5.0 per litre hike in the last five days. Loose soybean was retailed at Tk 90-94 a litre yesterday.
Egg, sugar, garlic and ginger remained static maintaining their previous high.
Farm egg was sold at Tk 118-120 per dozen (12 pieces), local garlic at Tk 130-140 a kg, imported Chinese garlic Tk 160-180, ginger 150-180 and sugar Tk 70-75 a kg.
Md Azad, a grocer at East Rayerbazar in the city, said their sales have declined on Sunday compared to that of the previous five days.
He stated that citydwellers, who have purchasing capacities, already have bought key consumer goods in large quantities with an apparent aim to stay home to avoid coming in contact with coronavirus.
He mentioned that prices of onion and pulses witnessed a slight decline but most other essentials remained unchanged.
He also said that costs of the commodities may further reduce if the current trend continues as there is no shortage of the items at wholesale level.
However, rice of coarse variety was retailed at Tk 46-50 a kg, medium at Tk 52-55 and finer quality Tk 60-70 on the day.
Prices of the staple rose by 10-31 per cent in the last one week, said Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB). It said the current rice price is two-year high.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan said the government should immediately increase selling the essential through the state-owned TCB.
He mentioned that coarse rice prices rose by 30-31 per cent, potato by 25 per cent and farm egg 30-35 per cent in the last five days increasing the woes of the commoners, especially the commoners.
"The TCB should start supplying key essential items targeting the low-income people to prevent further rise in their sufferings as the possibility of a lockdown is increasing amid the deadly virus pandemic," he added.
