Edible oil, flour, dry chilli prices surge

NEWS DESK 

Prices of some consumables like loose edible oil and flour, and dry chilli witnessed a hike this week, adding to the commoners' woes during the ongoing corona-induced holidays.

Supply disruptions, however, caused scarcity of some grocery products in Dhaka city during the 17-day holiday announced as a Covid-19 safeguard measure.

The holiday might end on April 11.

Loose soya bean oil prices shot up to Tk 97-98 a litre from Tk 92-94 even a week back.

Loose coarse flour (atta) was retailed at Tk 34-36 a kg from Tk 29-30 seven days back.

However, branded bottled and packet edible oil and flour prices remained unchanged, maintaining their previous high value.

The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh recorded 8.0-10 percent hike in loose edible oil prices in a week.

Loose flour prices witnessed a 9.0-percent hike during the period, it added.

Md Jewel Rana, a grocer in the city's West Dhanmondi area, said the supply of loose edible oil, flour, sooji and pasteurised milk have declined.

The prices of loose soya bean oil increased to Tk 94 a litre at Moulvibazar wholesale market from Tk 88 even seven days back, he added.

Mr Rana said the prices of atta also shot up to Tk 30 a kg at wholesale from Tk 26 a few days back.

Contacted, Bangladesh Wholesale Edible Oil Traders Association president Md Golam Mawla said refiners raised prices two weeks back by Tk 2.0-3.0 a litre.

Supply has also been falling amid a low demand following the ongoing lockdown, he maintained.

Mr Mawla said import has almost stopped and refiners are now observing the situation.

However, onion, broiler chicken, farm egg and vegetable prices witnessed a decline last week while dry/red chilli prices increased.

Onion was traded at Tk 30-45 a kg, depending on the quality of the key kitchen commodity.

Imported red chilli was sold at Tk 320-360 a kg from the earlier price of Tk 250-280 for the same quantity.

The prices of imported garlic and ginger also witnessed a hike of Tk 10 per kg.

Imported garlic was priced at Tk 160-190, ginger at Tk 150-160 a kg on Thursday.