Shutdowns take toll on commodities' prices in Ctg

Prices of meat and vegetables are soaring in the kitchen markets of Chittagong as the ongoing countrywide hartals starting from Monday have caused a supply crunch, consumers and sellers said.
Beef was seen selling at Tk 300 a kg and mutton at Tk 400 a kg at the kitchen market of Karnaphuli Complex in the port city yesterday while their last week prices were Tk 280 and Tk 380 respectively.
Chicken -- broiler and layer -- were selling at Tk 145 and 160 a kg.
“In the last three days, prices have gone up by Tk 8-10 on each kg of meat,” said Aziz Ahmed, who sells chicken in the market.
At Reazuddin Bazaar's kitchen market yesterday, prices of all vegetables were up by Tk 3-5 per kg, which gradually rose in the past three days.
The four days of shutdowns this week disturbed vegetable-carrying vehicles' easy movement and increased prices of vegetables, which will go up further if hartals continue, said Md Alauddin, a vegetable vendor of the market.
Pumpkin was being sold at Tk 25 a kg, bean Tk 30, brinjal Tk 25, green chili Tk 40, lady's finger Tk 35 and cucumber Tk 25 while lemon was selling at Tk 10 apiece at most of the markets in the city yesterday.
“Political unrest in the country has lead to a general supply crunch, so vegetable prices are soaring,” said M Saifuddin, general secretary of Reazuddin Bazaar Wholesalers' Association.
“Traders are passing a very hard time during hartals, and due to shortage of commodities, customers did not get adequate vegetables in the market,” he added.
The prices of commodities like garlic, ginger and onion remained unchanged.
“Every day, prices of essentials are soaring and going out of control,” said a shopper who came to Reazuddin Bazar.