As the government went tough on dishonest traders and business syndicate, the prices of the daily commodities including rice have started reducing in the kitchen market across the country.
The food ministry continued to launch drives to contain essentials including rice price hike in different places of the capital Dhaka on Friday.
A joint team of food department led by Kula Pradip Chakma, deputy secretary of food ministry conducted a drive at Karwan Bazar in the city on Friday.
Talking to journalists Selimul Azam, additional director of food department, who also took part in the drive, said they have been monitoring the kitchen markets since January 15.
“On January 16 we conducted the drive at Babu Bazar kitchen market. We saw per kg minicate rice selling at Tk 70. But today (Friday) this variety of rice is selling between Tk66 to 67 per kg based on quality. It does mean, the price of rice shows a downward trend,” Selimul Azam said.
He added no one would be allowed to create an artificial crisis in the market through illegally hoarding products or increasing the prices of essentials.
“We are taking strict actions against those who are trying to destabilise the market by unfairly increasing the prices of commodities for taking higher profits,” he said.
“Now most of the commodities prices are found falling trend in the city’s different kitchen markets. So, we think no one can dare create an artificial crisis in the market through illegally hoarding products,” he added.
He further said as they will continue taking strict actions against the dishonest traders engaged in increasing the prices of commodities for taking higher profits, the prices of essentials will come down immediately. Meanwhile, the price of most of the commodities including, potato, onion flour (atta), fine flour (Maida), sugar, pulses, chicken, onion, garlic and ginger has been reduced than before following drive and concerned ministries warning.
UNB adds; the prices of winter vegetables except potato decreased as the supply increased but meat and fish prices were still high in the kitchen market of the capital on Friday.
Though the prices of vegetables have decreased, it was selling Tk 20 to 30 per kg higher compared with the same period of the last year. Comparatively, vegetables and all other commodities are exactly higher this year, than recent previous years, said Harun-Ur Rashid, a retired employee of the government.
Talking with the reporters at Karwan Bazar kitchen market, he said potato, tomato, and carrot prices usually remain between Tk20 to 40 per kg during this time of season. But these items are selling between Tk60 to 70 per kg based on quality.
These additional prices have become a burden for retired and fixed-income groups. Thus decreasing the prices of vegetables by Tk10 to 20 per kg iscnot bringing any relief to the consumers, he said.
However, almost all winter vegetables were selling between Tk40 to 70 per kg in the Karwan Bazar on Friday.
Potato was selling at Tk60 to 70 per kg, onion at Tk70 to per kg-based quality, garlic at Tk220 per kg, and ginger at Tk200 to 240 per kg in different markets of the capital.
On the other hand, discomfort remains in the fish and meat market. Broiler chicken was selling at Tk200-220 per kg, and Sonaly chicken (Pakistani variety) at Tk320-340 per kg. Beef, which was sold at Tk 650 in many places a couple of weeks ago, is now being sold at Tk 700 per kg everywhere.
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Per dozen brown eggs (hens) at Tk135 to140, 5-10 taka less white eggs. Duck eggs were selling for Tk 180 to 190 per dozen while eggs of indigenous domestic rearing chicken were selling at Tk210 per dozen.
The prices of fish are higher now compared with a few months ago. However, Tilapia, pangas, and carp were selling between Tk220 to 260 per kg. Among other fish, the price of medium size weighing 1.5 kg to 2 kg farming Rui, Katla, and Mrigel fish was selling at Tk 300 to Tk 400 per kg. Also, Pabda, Tengra, Koi, sheat (Boal),, chital, and Hilsa fish are not below Tk600 per kg.
The bigger size fish prices like coral, Boal, and river pangas were selling between Tk700 to 1100 per kg at Karwan Bazar.
Asked about the price hike, Director General of the Directorate of National Consumers Rights Protection (DNCRP) AHM Shafiquzzama said that his office will launch a drive against the unusual price hike of these essentials.
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He also said that a few months ago he asked different ministries and directorates to take steps to increase the supply of essentials including onions and potatoes to control prices.
Shafiquzzama said during a visit to different cold storage in different districts he found enough stock of potatoes, despite the price increase.
If the higher price of onion and potato continue, the government will decide to import those items, he said.