A month ago, consumers enjoyed considerable relief as vegetable prices remained low during Ramadan. However, since Eid-ul-Fitr, prices of essential food items—particularly vegetables—have surged across Dhaka’s retail markets, leaving few options under Tk 60-80 per kilogram.
Traders have noted that while the prices of most summer vegetables have remained stable at the wholesale level, rising demand and transportation-related costs have pushed retail prices higher. They anticipate a drop in prices by next week as market supply continues to improve.
A visit to the Mohammadpur Agricultural Market, Town Hall Market, and Rayer Bazar on Friday revealed that brinjal (round) was selling for Tk 100 per kilogram and brinjal (long) for Tk 80. Beans were priced at Tk 70, radish at Tk 60, cucumber at Tk 80, spiny gourd at Tk 140, and bitter melon at Tk 80. Tomatoes were selling at Tk 40 per kilogram. Other vegetables, including okra, sponge gourd, luffa, pointed gourd, arum lobe, yardlong beans, snake gourd, and green chillies, ranged between Tk 70 to Tk 100 per kilogram. Papaya was selling for Tk 60 per kilogram.
Additional items such as gourd and pumpkin were priced at Tk 60 and Tk 30 per piece, respectively. Green bananas were being sold for Tk 40, and lemons at Tk 20-30 for four pieces.
Despite the surge in vegetable prices, chicken prices remained stable. Sonali chicken was selling for Tk 280 per kilogram, Sonali hybrid for Tk 250, red layer and white layer chicken for Tk 280 and Tk 270 respectively, while broiler chicken was available at Tk 180 per kilogram. Local chicken remained the most expensive, at Tk 630 per kilogram.
Fish prices showed similar consistency. A 500-gram hilsa was selling at Tk 600 per piece. Prices for farmed shingh fish ranged between Tk 450-600, rui fish at Tk 400-450, and local magur fish from Tk 800 to Tk 1,000 per kilogram. Mrigel was priced at Tk 360-400, pangash at Tk 200-230, shrimp at Tk 800-1,200, and boal fish at Tk 600-800 per kilogram.
In the meat section, beef was priced at Tk 780 per kilogram, beef liver at Tk 800, beef head at Tk 450, tripe between Tk 350-400, and mutton at Tk 1,150-1,200 per kilogram. Eggs also saw a variation in prices, with a dozen red eggs selling for Tk 125, duck eggs for Tk 220, and local chicken eggs for Tk 90.
Manowar Hossain, a private-sector employee shopping at Mohammadpur Agricultural Market, remarked, “Since Eid, vegetable prices have risen sharply. Prices of other essentials are following suit. Stronger government oversight is needed to curb this trend.”
Fahim Reza, a customer at Rayer Bazar, echoed this concern, saying, “There’s no vegetable under Tk 70 here. Many are over Tk 100. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for people like us to afford basic food.”
However, prices were noticeably lower at Karwan Bazar, one of Dhaka’s largest wholesale markets. According to Alamgir Hossain, a vendor there, “If a vegetable is Tk 80 in other retail markets, it’s around Tk 60 here. Traders buy in bulk from us and resell across the city, adding their transport, rent, and labor costs to the price.”
With traders optimistic about improved supply and a possible price drop next week, consumers remain hopeful for some relief amid growing concerns over rising food costs.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
