Veggie prices shoot up at Ctg kitchen markets
Many Chattogram residents are dealing with a new financial struggle, as prices of most vegetables have shot up by Tk 10-20 per kg in the span of a week, putting further pressure on families, many of which already saw their incomes fall due to the pandemic.
Tuhin Biswas (not his real name), a high school teacher, normally receives around Tk 15,000 salary, and must depend on private tuition to maintain his family.
However, he has been struggling with a serious financial crisis since March, as the school remained closed and he lost all private students. Now he must make do with only his salary.
Tuhin came to Chawkbazar Kitchen Market on Saturday, when he talked to The Daily Star.
"All vegetable prices have increased in just a week," he told this correspondent. "If I buy five kg of different vegetables, I'll have to pay an extra Tk 100 now, which is a huge thing in the current situation."
Md Tawhid, an auto-rickshaw driver, came to Bahaddarhat Kitchen Market and was instantly frustrated after getting to know the prices.
"The number of passengers has dropped significantly after the pandemic...as did our incomes," he said, "This just made things worse."
This correspondent visited different kitchen markets on Friday and Saturday, and indeed found the prices hiked. A kilogramme of tomato was sold at Tk 80 the previous week, but is Tk 100 this week. Brinjal was Tk 50 per kg, but now it is Tk 60-65, and green chillies are being sold for Tk 200 per kg, around Tk 30 more than last week.
Traders said vegetable supply has decreased in markets, as gardens in the north-eastern region have been inundated.
Md Yasin, president of Karnaphuli kitchen Market Traders' Association, said vegetable supply from northern districts has decreased due to floods. Vegetables from different upazilas of Chattogram and adjacent districts are now coming to the markets, but they are not sufficient to meet demands.
"That's why prices have shot up," he observed.
Contacted, Manju Sawdagar, a wholesale trader of Reazuddin Bazar, said there is no chance for prices to drop before winter.
Comments