The price of local onions climbed to Tk140-150 per kg in the capital’s kitchen markets on Friday amid low stocks of the essential culinary staple.
Traders said that low stocks of locally grown onions with farmers and hoarders have led to a decline in wholesale supply, driving up the prices of both local and imported onions.
The price of onions was Tk110-120 per kg on Thursday and remained at Tk120 per kg on Friday morning but climbed to Tk140-150 as the day progressed, with many traders running out of stock by noon.
Md Polash of Matlab Traders at Mirpur 13 said he sold onions at Tk110-120 per kg on Friday morning, but his entire stock was gone by noon.
He said wholesale traders have hiked onion prices due to a lack of imports just ahead of the new season.
However, the new Murikata onions have started arriving in the market, though in very limited quantities. Onions with leaves are selling for Tk70-80 per kg.
Haji Md Majed, an onion importer at Shyambazar, told the Daily Sun that onion prices have risen because the government did not allow imports.
“There is a shortage of local onions in the market as the seasonal stock has ended, causing prices to rise rapidly. The commerce adviser did not approve onion imports, which contributed to the price hike,” he said.
“The price of onions in the neighbouring country is Tk10 per kg. If we could import them, they could be sold here at Tk32 per kg after covering all costs,” said the wholesaler.
Meanwhile, businessmen raised the price of bottled soybean oil by Tk9 per litre without government approval.
Similarly, they hiked the price of the 5-litre bottle by Tk43 and the 2-litre bottle by Tk18.
Last Wednesday, Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin warned that raising oil prices without government permission violates the law and that traders would face legal action.
On the other hand, vegetable prices have begun to ease slightly in the market.
Traders said winter vegetable prices are starting to fall as supplies increase.
During a visit to the kitchen markets at Mirpur 6, 11, 13, 14, and Shewrapara, long eggplants were priced at Tk80-100 per kg and round eggplants at Tk120 per kg.
Two main types of beans were available in the markets. Green beans, which have dropped from Tk80 to Tk55-60 per kg, and coloured beans, which fell from Tk100-120 to Tk70-80 per kg.
Medium-sized cauliflowers, previously priced at Tk50-60, were selling at Tk40-45. Cabbage prices also fell, selling at Tk30-35 each compared to Tk40-50 last week. Tomato prices declined to Tk80-100 per kg from Tk120-140 per kg over the week.
Saiful Islam, a vegetable trader at Mirpur 13, said that the supply of winter vegetables has increased, causing prices to fall and sales to rise.
Meanwhile, the prices of eggs and chicken have remained stable in the market for several weeks. Farm eggs, in particular, are inexpensive, with a dozen selling for Tk115-120 over the past three to four days.
The price of broiler chicken has dropped to Tk150-160 per kg from Tk180 per kg over the past week.
The price of Sonali chickens has fallen to Tk280 per kg from Tk290-300, Sonali hybrid chickens to Tk260 from Tk270-280, and red layer chickens to Tk280 from Tk300 per kg.
Beef was sold at Tk750 per kg, while mutton fetched Tk1,200 per kg.
Source: Daily Sun
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
