The prices of daily necessities have increased, with a notable surge in onions and eggs in just one week. The rice market had already been on the rise, and now almost all products, including vegetables, spices, and raw chillies, have seen a price hike.
During a visit to kitchen markets in Shahjadpur, Badda, Hatirpul, and Karwan Bazar in the capital on Friday, it was observed that onions were selling for Tk 80-85 per kg, up from last week's Tk 60-65 per kg.
Babul Mia, who runs a wholesale store in Kawran Bazar, said, "There is no major crisis of onions, but there is not much in stock with sellers. Those who ran out of stock are buying and selling onions at the new prices, while those who still have onions in store are using the opportunity to make more profit."
Meanwhile, there is no control over the egg market either. In the capital's retail markets, a dozen brown farm eggs are being sold for Tk 135-140, which was Tk 125-130 last week.
The prices of vegetables are gradually rising. Though prices have been high since July due to continuous rain, almost all vegetables are priced above Tk80 per kg now. The price of aubergine has increased by Tk 20-30, now costing around Tk 100-120 per kg. Bitter gourd, spiny gourd, and snake beans are being sold for Tk 80-100, green chillies for Tk 180-200, and imported tomatoes for Tk 140-150 per kg. A bundle of leafy greens, which used to cost Tk15-20, is now being sold for Tk25-30.
There is a price hike in spices as well. Previously, 100 grams of cardamom were sold for Tk400, but now it's around Tk550-600. The price of ginger has increased from Tk180 to Tk220-250 per kg.
The price of rice is also not offering any relief. According to TCB data, coarse rice like Swarna is being sold for Tk55-60 per kg, medium varieties like BR-28 and Paizam for Tk60-75, and fine varieties like Miniket and Nazirshail for Tk75-85 per kg in the capital. These prices have remained unchanged for almost one and a half months, with no downward trend in sight.
SM Nazer Hossain, vice president of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), said, "Typically, food prices increase slightly during August to October. But this time, the prices are unusually high. Even though production is abundant, a powerful group is hoarding the goods and creating an artificial shortage. The government needs to find out why prices are rising this way."
According to consumer rights organisations, without effective market monitoring, transparency in the supply chain, and control over transportation costs, the market for daily essentials will not stabilise. Otherwise, the price hike would continue, further worsening the economic hardship for the general public.
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