Kitchen markets in holiday mood
Supply chain of daily essentials in the capital's kitchen markets is yet to be restored as many people, still enjoying the Eid vacation, have not yet returned to the city.
Sales were very low as the presence of customers in the kitchen markets was thin until yesterday.
Some retailers of daily essentials said the number of traders is also low as many of them left the city to enjoy Eid with their kith and kin.
The traders expect markets to get into full swing from the next week when both customers and retailers arrive in the city.
Government offices resuming yesterday, holidaymakers are coming back unhurriedly. Some private offices also reopened yesterday.
The majority of retail shops at the city's Jatrabari, Kaptan Bazar and Karwan Bazar were closed as traders are still in a holiday mood.
“I am selling vegetables from my old stock as new supply is yet to come from the countryside,” said Monir Hossain, a vegetable vendor at Jatrabari kitchen market. “It will take a few days before markets are busy again.”
There were quite a few customers at the fish market of Karwan Bazar while other markets in the area were empty.
“With fish traders running short of supplies, prices of fish are higher after Eid,” said Aminul, a small trader at Karwan Bazar. Many fish traders are still selling from their old stocks.
Prices of vegetables, however, declined to a degree as demand for vegetables is low now. Prices of meat and lentils increased because of higher demands during the Eid season.
Beef was sold for Tk 270-290 per kg yesterday whereas it cost Tk 250-260 per kg last week.
Mutton was selling for Tk 390-400 per kg, up from its previous price of Tk 360-380 before Eid.
Broiler chickens were selling for Tk 160-165 per kg, the previous rate being Tk 140-150, traders said.
Lentils were sold for Tk 116 per kg yesterday, up from Tk 110-112 before Eid.
Vegetable traders said prices of aubergine, okra, bitter gourd and cucumber ranged between Tk 30-40 per kg while they cost Tk 40-50 per kg earlier.
Potato prices remained stable and sold for Tk 24 per kg while tomato prices dropped to Tk 100-110 per kg, down from Tk 120 per kg before Eid.
Five-litre bottles of cooking oil were selling for Tk 660-670. Sugar prices hovered between Tk 52-54 per kg.
Coarse variety of rice was sold for Tk 30-32 per kg while medium-fine variety Tk 35-36 per kg, traders said.
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