Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The prices of essentials, especially fish, onion, garlic, lentil, potato and vegetables went up in the city’s kitchen markets in a fresh bout of hike, traders said.
They have attributed the political turmoil and the resultant transportation setback to the spike.
Due to frequent and continued strikes during the last few days, supply of the daily essentials was disrupted as most of the trucks could not move from one place to another, resulting in an increase of commodity prices, they have added.
Traders, buyers and sellers expressed their worry over the smooth supply of essentials if such political turmoil persists any longer.
Prices of onion increased by BDT 5-10 per kg during a week due to the political turmoil, the traders said.
The imported Indian onion was sold between BDT 38-45 which was BDT 32-36 per kg in the previous week and that of local onion sold at BDT 35-40 per kg against its previous week’s rate of BDT 30-34.
Price of imported onion decreased by over 21 percent over the month, the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data showed. Local onion price decreased by over 10 percent in a month.
Imported big sized Chinese garlic is being sold BDT 110-130 per kg up by BDT 10 per kg and the local variety is hovering between BDT 70 and BDT 100 per kg against BDT 60-90 per kg. Prices of local garlic increased by over 18 percent in a month.
Ginger was selling between BDT 90 and BDT 100 per kg. Dry chili sold between BDT 150 and 200 per kg marking a hike by over 10 per cent in a month.
Loose flour (Atta) sold between BDT 35-37 while a packet of two kilo flour sold at BDT 78. Loose Flour (maida) ranged between BDT 42-44 per kg and packed variety at BDT 46-48 per kg.
Loose soybean oil is now selling at between BDT 112-118 per litre, palm oil sold between BDT 75 and BDT 76 and super palm between BDT 80-82 per litre.
But there is no change of price for the bottled edible oil. One litre bottled soybean was selling at between BDT 130-BDT 135 and a five-litre bottle was selling at between BDT 655 and BDT 670.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), price of loose soybean oil has decreased by 8.26 percent in a month.
Prices of local and imported Nepalese lentil increased by BDT 2-3 per kg and sold between BDT 140-143 and the imported variety at BDT 145-146 per kg respectively. The mung variety sold at BDT 120-130 per kg.
Prices of all varieties of rice maintained the earlier high trend.
Minicate was selling at BDT 43-46, Nazirshail at BDT 45-50 per kg while the medium variety including paizam, lata ranged from BDT 34 to 42 and IRRI at BDT 30-32 per kg.
Vegetables prices increased by BDT 5-15 per kg. Brinjal was selling at BDT 40-60, green chili at BDT 80, tomato at BDt 30-40, new potato at BDT 16-25, bean at BDT 30-50 cauliflower and cabbage at BDT 25-40 according to size and bottle gourd at BDT 40 per kg.
The price of green papaya was at BDT 30, bitter gourd at BDT 100-120 per kg, okra at BDT 120, patal at BDT 80 and ridge gourd at BDT 70-80 per kg.
Egg prices ranged between BDT 34-36 for every four pieces.
Beef was selling at BDT 280 per kg, while mutton between BDT 450 and Tk 460 and poultry birds between BDT 140 and BDT 160 per kg. Fish prices have also increased due to short supply.
BBN/SSR/AD-09Mar13-1:25 pm (BST)
