March 29, 2024, 7:07 am


Rubel Rana

Published:
2018-08-18 19:17:15 BdST

Fewer buyers in kitchen markets but prices of essentials high


FT ONLINE

With Eid-ul-Adha less than a week away, the kitchen market in the capital has seen an unusually low number of shoppers, as many of them have already left the capital for their country homes to observe Eid with their families.

Despite a low presence of buyers, the prices of essentials and especially of onions, chillies and spices are still high, daunting a few shoppers who were seen in Karwan Bazar, the capital’s largest kitchen market, yesterday.

This correspondent found yesterday that the supplies of vegetables were normal but the vendors were demanding a high price as usual.

 The prices of hilsa and other fish, chicken, and egg increased in the retail market in the capital.

All types of spices were being sold a Tk100 more per keg. The Indian onion is being sold in local markets at Tk35 per kg, while the local variety is being sold at Tk55-60 a kg. Demand for onion, an essential cooking ingredient, increases during Eid festivities.

 The price of onion marked a big rise in the wholesale and retail markets of Dhaka over the past three days. Some traders, however, said the price had shot up in the local market due to a price hike in India.

Buyers said vegetables and broiler chicken prices had increased in the capital's kitchen market compared to last week. Broiler chicken was sold at a price that was Tk 10-15 higher per kg. Besides, the prices of vegetables in general had risen by Tk 5 to 6.

However, a Rui fish sold at Tk 240-350 per kg, Katla at Tk 200-320, Pangash at Tk 120-180 and Tilapia at Tk120-170, depending upon size and quality.

 The prices of chillies had also risen. Yesterday, chilli was being offered at TK 120-130. Last week, it was available at TK 110. For a month now,

chilli has remained the most pricy item in the kitchen market.

Traders attributed the price hike to the heavy rain, which damaged vegetables and also a spike in demand ahead of Eid-Ul -Adha. A shortage of supply had led to a spurt in the price of chicken (broiler) but it may decrease after Eid.

However, consumers said that most traders were flouting the rules and prices set by the authorities. There are allegations against government agencies of not properly monitoring the market to maintain the price of goods at a reasonable level.

One of the vendors told The Independent that it was normal for prices to rise before Eid and other festivities.

For a few weeks, most of the vegetables sold at Tk 40 per kg and the prices have not changed.

Meat sellers were not following the regulations of City Corporation, alleged buyers. City Corporation fixed the beef meat price as Tk 480 but in the market it was sold at Tk 500.

 However, on Thursday, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Syed Khokon claimed the price of spices was somewhat tolerable ahead of Eid-ul-Azha than that of the previous year.

Even the prices of some essentials was much lower than last year, claimed the mayor after visiting spice shops at Kawran Bazar kitchen market in the morning.

Syed Khokon also hoped that the price will not rise before the Eid.

A total of 187 mobile OMS trucks will supply kitchen commodities across the country every day except Friday, according to a TCB press statement. The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will launch an open market sale (OMS) across the country on Monday on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Azha.

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