Port city already seeing price hike ahead of Eid

The tradition of increasing prices of groceries is also being maintained in this Eid season in Chittagong city. 

Nazmul Hasan Rony, resident of Patenga, yesterday was shocked to hear the price of beef at Steel Mill kitchen market where every kilogramme was being sold for Tk 480. “I bought one kilogramme of beef for Tk 400 just two weeks ago,” he said.

According to Aminul Islam Babu, Reazuddin Bazar Meat Vendors' Association's president, supply of Indian bulls has decreased causing the price to rise and the price would soon reach Tk 500.

Simultaneously, prices of chicken, mutton, fish, some vegetables and eggs have also been increased in retail shops in Reazuddin Bazar, Kazir Dewri, Choumuhuni, and Karnaphuli Complex within two weeks.

The price of green chilli has been doubled in two phases since Ramadan started and now it is being sold for Tk 120 per kilogramme.

When asked, Md Solaiman and Mamunul Hossain, retailers of Steel Mill and Choumuhuni kitchen markets respectively, blamed the wholesale market traders for increasing the price. But, the price of the green pepper in Reazuddin Bazar wholesale market was found to be Tk 50.

Similarly, the biggest wholesale market in the port city is selling coriander leaf for Tk 90-100 per kilogramme and tomatoes for Tk 50 per kilogramme while the retailers are selling those at double the price.

“Every year traders increase the prices of essential goods before Eid but the authorities do nothing about it,” said a customer, Khalilur Rahman.

SM Nazer Hossain, president of Consumers Association of Bangladesh, Chittagong, said government agencies must conduct regular drives at every retail market to control the prices.

Chittagong District Administration Executive Magistrate Rajib-ul-Ahashan said due to a shortage of manpower, conducting regular drives is not possible.