Various initiatives of the government’s different agencies and ministries have totally failed to bring down the prices of essentials, as yet. Hostage to a section of unscrupulous businessmen, the authorities and agencies concerned are now advising people to buy essentials in small amounts. Prices of essentials, particularly meat, fish and vegetables have shot up in the city markets with the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.
Both Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) hung price lists of all essential commodities in the city’s kitchen markets asking the retailers to sell items as per the rate fixed. Although City Corporations fixed the price of essentials after conducting different meetings with business leaders, sellers take more than the listed price.
While visiting kitchen markets at Karwan Bazar, Mohakhali, Mirpur, Khilgaon, Fakirapool, and Rampura area, this correspondent found retailers charging high prices for essentials, more than than listed by the City Corporations. One kg beef was being sold at Tk 550-570, indigenous chicken at Tk 550 and broiler at Tk 155-160.
Whereas city corporation on Monday fixed the price of beef (indigenous) Tk 525 per kg, beef (bolder) Tk 500 per kg, buffalo meat Tk 480 per kg mutton (goat) Tk 750 per kg and mutton (lamb) per kg Tk 650. Besides, the wholesale price of broiler has been fixed at Tk 130-135 per kg and retail price Tk 137-148 per kg.
The fish market is very high since one week ago.
Vegetables are also priced in excess. Sugar price has increased slightly. Prices of pulses are also higher. In Mirpur section no 6 fish market, the price of a 3 kilogram boal fish is Tk 1,400, and a medium Hilsa Tk 1,400 per kg. The sellers do not agree to sell river shrimps at under Tk 1,000 per kg. Besides, one kilogram of shrimps, bine, tatkini, and foli fish is being sold Tk 600 to 800 per kg.
In Rampura, Khilgaon, and Fakirapool kitchen markets, per kg shing fish is being sold at Tk 500-600. One kilogram Tilapia is being sold at tk 180-300, an increase of 30 to 100 tk since one week ago. The price of Rui fish and Katla fish also increased Tk 100 to Tk150 per kg. According to the City Corporation lists, the price of different vegetables is high. Moreover, in some kitchen markets, retailers are selling at more than the listed prices.
Per kg Loti at Tk 35-40 (wholesale), Tk 42-48 (retail), bitter gourd Tk 40-50 (wholesale), Tk 48-60 (retail), snake gourd Tk 35-40 (wholesale), Tk 42-48 (retail), cowpea Tk 40-45 (wholesale), Tk 48-54 (retail), potato (Holland white) Tk 11-13 (wholesale), Tk 12-14 (retail), green chili Tk 40-45 (wholesale), Tk 48-54 (retail), garlic (indigenous) Tk 45-65 (wholesale), Tk 50-72 (retail), and garlic (imported) Tk 90-95 (wholesale), Tk 99-105 (retail) have been fixed in the city corporation lists.
Overall, people, especially the low income and fixed income group are facing severe financial hardship, and are the worst sufferers. According to the DSCC and DNCC price lists, the wholesale price of fine rice, medium rice and coarse rice has been determined at Tk 34-50, Tk 29-36, and Tk 26-28 per kg respectively, whereas the retail price of those rice varieties were fixed at Tk 45-53, Tk 30-38 and Tk 27-29. The retail prices of coarse flour, gram, sugar, and onion have been fixed at Tk 23-24, Tk 76-84, Tk 53-54 and Tk 21-22 respectively.
It was also said that the seller must display the price list at a viewable site in the shop. However, this correspondent did not see any price list of vegetables in most of the kitchen markets. According to 2016 preliminary report of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) Income-Expenditure Survey, the income of the rich people has increased in the country. On the other hand, the income of severely poor people has decreased. The reality of those statistics is proved during visits to the kitchen markets.
The recent cyclonic storm Fani, accompanied by heavy rain, affected the vegetable fields, retailers in the city’s kitchen markets said. Aminul Islam, 30, a shopkeeper at Rampura bazar told Bangladesh Post, “We cannot keep the prices of essentials at previous rates as wholesalers charge us higher rates.” On the other hand, wholesalers said that they had not increased prices without reason.
They added hence, the shortfall in production was the main reason behind the price hike of vegetables. The director general of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Benazir Ahmed said, “Some unscrupulous businessmen have increased the prices of essentials. Retailers and wholesalers blame each other. We are working to find the actual reason behind the price hike.”