Prices of most of the essential commodities declined slightly in the capital on Friday but they still reamin beyond the reach of the people, particularly low-income group.
The prices of rice, wheat, beef, mutton, chicken, edible oil, sugar, onion, spices, fish, potato and other essentials were showing a downward trend.
Besides, the prices of most vegetables are on the decline in the city’s different markets as the country is witnessing a plentiful supply of early varieties of winter vegetables over the last two weeks. But people are not satisfied with the slight drop in the prices.
Vegetables, including bean, aubergine, radish, cucurbitaceous plant, yard long bean, cauliflower, cabbage, papaya, okra, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, sweet gourd and green chili are being sold at reasonable prices now.
During visit to different kitchen markets in the capital, this correspondent found that vegetable prices decreased by Tk 10 to Tk 20 per kilogram compared to last week.
Bulbous root of arum is being sold at Tk 70 per kg, brinjal at Tk 60 to Tk 80, bitter gourd at Tk 70 to Tk 80, pointed gourd Tk 70 to Tk 80, asparagus bean at Tk 100, green papaya at Tk 30 to Tk 40, zucchini at Tk 70, snake gourd at Tk 70, arum at Tk 80 to Tk 100, ridge gourd at Tk 100, cucumber at Tk 70 to Tk 80, bottle gourd at Tk 40 to Tk 60 and green chili at Tk 100 to Tk 120. Winter vegetables are priced differently, with cauliflower at Tk 30 to Tk 50 per piece, small-sized cabbage at Tk 40 per piece, ripe tomatoes at Tk 120 to Tk 150, carrot at Tk 120 per kg, radish at Tk 30 to Tk 40 per kg, and olives at Tk 60 per kg.
Lemon (four pieces) are being sold at Tk 20 to Tk 40, coriander leaves at Tk 50 to Tk 150 per kg, green banana (four pieces) at Tk 50 per kg, green cumcuber at Tk 60 per piece, and sweet pumpkin at Tk 40 to Tk 50 per kg. Additionally, red spinach is available at Tk 15 per kg, gourd at Tk 40, radish at Tk 15, spinach at Tk 15, kale at Tk 15, poon at Tk 40, and data at Tk 30 per kg.
Onions have seen a significant price reduction, with all types now selling at Tk 100 per kg due to increased supply.
Price of local onions dropped by Tk 10 to Tk 130 to Tk 150 per kg, while Indian onions are priced at Tk 90 to Tk 110, depending on the variety.
Raw ginger is selling at Tk 120 per kg, and old ginger is priced at Tk 280. Garlic is available for Tk 240 per kg, while new potatoes are priced at Tk 100 per kg. Bogura potatoes are also selling at Tk 100, but older potatoes have seen a price increase, now costing Tk 80 per kg, up by Tk 10.
Traders indicate that the price of onions has dropped significantly, mainly due to the arrival of black onions in the market.
The retailers said that the arrival of black onions has led to the overall decrease in onion prices.
They expect a further decline in the next two to three weeks.
However, poultry prices remain largely unchanged. Broiler chickens are still being sold at Tk 175 to Tk 180 per kg, while Sonali cock prices range from Tk 280 to Tk 310 per kg.
Local chickens are priced at Tk 520 per kg, layer red chickens are selling between Tk 300 and Tk 310, and white layer chickens are priced at Tk 290 per kg.
Beef is available at Tk 650 to Tk 800 per kg and mutton is priced at Tk 1,150 to Tk 1,200 per kg. Eggs are being sold at Tk 150 per dozen, duck eggs at Tk 230 , and local chicken eggs at Tk 90.
Due to a low supply of Hilsa fish, prices are high. Hilsa weighing 500 grams is priced at Tk 1,000 per kg, 700 to 800-gram Hilsa at Tk 1,500 per kg, and big-sized Hilsa is being sold for Tk 1,800.
Farmed horn fish is priced at Tk 350 to Tk 450 per kg, depending on its size. Other fish such as rui, mrigel, and pangas are being sold at Tk 350 to Tk 450, 320 to Tk 400, and Tk 200 to Tk 220 per kg, respectively.
Local catfish is priced between Tk 800 to Tk 1,100, shrimp between Tk 700 and Tk 1,200, and boal at Tk 600 to Tk 800 per kg.
Other fish varieties like poa, pabda, tilapia, koi, mala, and various local fishes such as batasi tengra, tengra, and kachki are also selling at various price ranges, from Tk 1,300 per kg for tengra to Tk 500 for kachki fish.
In terms of cooking essentials, 5-litre soybean oil can is being sold at Tk 818, while various lentils such as desi mashur and mung are available at Tk 140 and Tk 180 per kg, respectively. Miniket rice is priced between Tk 76 and Tk 80, and Najirshail costs Tk 75 to Tk 82 per kg.
Traders said that the overall price fluctuations are expected to continue.
People of the country were bearing brunt of skyrocketing price hike of essentials. However, there was no ground for the price hike of essential commodities.
Prices of essential commodities had gone beyond the purchasing capacity of common people.
The government’s all steps to keep the daily essentials’ prices under control also went in vain.
Everything was very expensive as prices of most essentials including vegetables increased abnormally with retail prices of almost all kinds rising from 80 per cent to 100 per cent.
Unscrupulous businesses in association with unholy nexus of strong syndicate had hiked prices of essentials since last year.
Traders said they believe the prices of all essentials will drastically decrease after cent percent arrival of vegetables in the city’s kitchen markets.
“The commerce, agriculture and home ministries will have to remain in touch with importers, traders and consumers so that the unholy nexus of dishonest traders, hoarders and retailers will have no scope to make the kitchen market volatile again,” an official of private organisation said.
Consumers said that they think the government agencies including intelligence and law enforcement will stay on alert as many efforts are being made to manipulate the kitchen market again through syndication.
Intelligence and law enforcement agencies will have to take adequate measures immediately to ensure that commodity prices would not go beyond the purchasing capacity of common people again.
