Onion prices in Dhaka have skyrocketed, with retail costs surging from Tk 70 to Tk 120 per kilogram in just one week, leaving consumers frustrated and struggling to cope with the sudden price hike, reports UNB.
A visit to several wholesale and retail markets across the capital on Thursday revealed that prices have increased by Tk 40 to Tk 50 per kg since last week. At retail outlets, onions are now priced between Tk 110 and Tk 120 per kg. Wholesale prices have also seen a sharp rise, with the cost of a 5-kg palla doubling from Tk 260 to Tk 520, and some traders charging as much as Tk 540 per palla. This means the wholesale price has now crossed Tk 100 per kg.
Traders at Dhaka’s markets explained the price hike, citing supply shortages and rising wholesale prices. Shariful, an onion trader at the Uttar Badda kitchen market, noted that the wholesale price per sack had risen by Tk 26–28 per kg within just two or three days, forcing them to pass the higher costs onto consumers.
Aminul, another trader, confirmed the limited supply compared to the increased demand. “The price rise began in late October, and it’s still ongoing,” he added.
Consumers, however, are growing increasingly frustrated. Fahmidul, a buyer at Karwan Bazar, expressed disbelief: “Just three days ago, onions were Tk 80 per kg. Now, it’s over Tk 100. It makes no sense that prices have jumped so suddenly.”
Some wholesalers have also accused middlemen of hoarding onions in anticipation of selling them at inflated prices later. “We had to buy onions at Tk 4,000 per maund, and as soon as we started selling, the price jumped overnight,” said Sanoar Hossain, a wholesaler at Uttar Badda.
While traders blame rising prices on supply constraints, consumers are calling for stronger market regulation. “Every time we hear that the sellers are not at fault and that farmers don’t get fair prices either, the question remains—who’s making the profit? It’s the government’s responsibility to investigate, but they never seem to succeed,” said Maymuna Akter, a shopper.
The lion’s share of onions sold in Dhaka comes from Pabna, Faridpur, and Rajbari, where prices have also surged, reaching nearly Tk 100 per kg.
Zahidul Islam, Senior Agricultural Marketing Officer at the Department of Agricultural Marketing, explained that the price rise is seasonal. “Between late October and early December, onion prices tend to increase. The stock farmers had is almost gone, and now wholesalers hold most of the supply. Prices will stay high until new onions are harvested,” he said.
Islam also pointed to import restrictions and higher onion prices in India as contributing factors. The pressure at the Hili land port, where onions are imported from India, has also affected domestic prices.
Obaidur Rahman Mondol, Director of the Field Wing at the Department of Agricultural Extension, confirmed that farmers are planting early varieties of onions, which should reach the market by early to mid-December. “There is no fresh onion supply yet, but farmers have begun cultivating murikata onions, which will be harvested by mid-December,” he said.
However, murikata onion farmers are skeptical. Arshad Molla, a farmer from Sathia in Pabna, explained that many had suffered losses last year. “We lost Tk 500–1,000 per maund last season. Even though onions now sell for more than Tk 3,000 per maund, the price crashes to below Tk 2,000 as soon as the new harvest hits the market,” he said.
Despite these concerns, the Department of Agricultural Extension doesn’t expect any major disruption in supply. “The delay in harvest will likely only be 4-5 days compared to last year. Murikata onions are grown on high ground, so waterlogging won’t affect them much,” said Mondol.
The Ministry of Commerce has stated that any decisions regarding onion imports will be made after reviewing the situation. A senior official at the ministry, who wished to remain anonymous, noted that while Bangladesh produces about 3.5 million tonnes of onions annually, nearly 25% of the crop spoils, necessitating imports of 500,000 to 700,000 tonnes each year.
The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) believes the price hike is artificial, driven by market manipulation. CAB Vice President Nazer Hossain accused a vested group of exploiting the political instability surrounding the upcoming elections to create an artificial crisis. “If the government takes action against market manipulation, prices will come down,” he said.
Data from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) shows that onion prices have risen by more than 50% in the past month. While prices are still lower than the same period last year, consumer rights groups have called for stricter market monitoring to prevent further price hikes.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
