Prices of Essentials: Going up as supply runs low for lockdown
Prices of essential goods are on the rise as the supply of goods in the market is comparatively low during the lockdown.
Tomatoes are now being sold at Tk 11o-120 per kg, compared to the Tk 65-70 per kg. Green chilies, which were sold at Tk 40 per kg, are now being sold at Tk 100.
Vendors said the consignments of tomatoes and green chilies after Eid were small from outside of Dhaka, due to which their prices have gone up.
Talking to traders in different parts of the capital, it was learnt that the prices of other vegetables and fishes have also shot up.
They said the sales have come down to one-fourth after Eid.
Many products went rotten as they were not sold, which is why traders have increased the prices to recoup their losses.
Most kitchen markets in Dhaka were closed since day before yesterday due to the post-Eid lockdown.
Even small neighbourhood shops did not open their shutters.
The prices of spotted gourd, gourd, asparagus, courgette and bitter gourd have gone up by Tk 5-10 per kg yesterday.
Most shops are, however, selling fading vegetable at low prices.
Meanwhile, the prices of fish, such as rui, katla, pangush and tilapia, among the cultivated fish, have gone up by Tk 20-30 per kg, while the prices of shrimp, tangra and fali fish have gone up by Tk 50-100 per kg.
Upon visiting the market, it was, however, seen that the prices of farm chickens, local chickens, golden chickens, as well as eggs, oil, sugar, potatoes, ginger, garlic, spices remain the same.
Abdul Latif, proprietor of Shah Ali Bhandar and a tomato importer in Karwan Bazar, said he was selling tomatoes in the wholesale market at Tk 110-120 per kg, which was Tk 65-70 per kg before Eid.
He said he got the latest imported products in hand last Monday, adding that another reason for the price hike is that 20/25 percent of the produce began rotting.
"But imports and exports have started again on Saturday [yesterday]. Those products will hit the market tomorrow. Then the price will come down a bit again."
Some traders said truck fares have gone up from Tk 12,000 to Tk 25,000 due to the recent lockdown.
Our reporter visited Kazi Para Bazar, Shewrapara Bazar, Mirpur-11 Bazar, Karwan Bazar and Farmgate Bazaar, Mirpur-6 yesterday – a day after Eid.
During the visit to Kazipara market, only five of about 20 fish shops were open.
Traders of market said, "There are fewer customers but we have to buy fish at a higher price than other times. So, we have to sell at a higher price."
Monir Hossain said the price of any cultivated fish has gone up by Tk 20 per kg. The price of shrimp has gone up by Tk 50 per kg. The supply of fish is low at this time every year, which also contributes to the increase of prices.
At Karwan Bazar, a few shops were open and fewer customers were seen buying eel, putty, tangra, gusla and baila (different breeds of fish), which were being sold at Tk 500-800 kg.
Karwan Bazar fish trader Md Shafiq said there are fewer buyers in the fish market at the moment. But prices are higher because the supply of local fish is low. The price of small fish has gone up by Tk 50-100 per kg.
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