Commodity prices double in Dhaka’s kitchen market

Sushanto Gomes was staring at green chillies with a fluttered face in the capital’s Karwan Bazar kitchen market. He was dumbstruck hearing the price of the spice. Chillies would now cost him triple the price from four days ago.

The price of green chilli has risen from Tk40 to Tk100 in just four days.

Sushanto, who had come to the market to buy 1kg chilli, had to go home buying only half a kilogram at Tk50. He was worried he will need to allocate more money in his monthly budget for kitchen items.

In Pabna wholesale market, farmers are selling green chilli at Tk65 to Tk70 while in Bogura, the price ranges between Tk80 to Tk90.

The prices of a number of other essential commodities – egg, chicken, onion, garlic and some vegetables – in the capital’s kitchen markets have also soared this week.

Locally grown onions are now selling at Tk50 per kg – the price having doubled in a week. The prices of imported Indian onion range between Tk35 and Tk40 in the wholesale market; the prices were in between Tk15 and Tk20 a week back.

“The price has doubled due to a shortage of onion,” said Zahid Hassan, a wholesaler in Karwan Bazar.

The price of garlic has also gone up from Tk100 to Tk150.

The increased prices of onions, garlics and other vegetables will add woes to the budget of middle-income group people.

Vegetables perished as many obstacles hindered the transportation because of torrential rain. Vegetable sellers told The Business Standard that if the unfavourable weather continues, the prices may skyrocket further.

Prices of spices, especially cardamom and cumin, are also rising ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. People will need additional Tk50 per kg to purchase garlic in a week.

A dozen of eggs was sold at Tk100 last week and now it is being sold at Tk115. The price of egg has risen due to the shortage of supply. Egg sellers said they purchased eggs at a higher price from the wholesale market.

Customers are upset with the price hike of eggs as it has the place in their regular menu – a good source of protein essential for children.

With eggs, the price of chicken also goes up. Rina Khatun, a resident of Farmgate, bought broiler chicken for Tk145 per kg while she bought it at Tk120 a week ago.

A regular customer at Karwan Bazar where commodities are sold comparatively at lower prices, she said, “I used to get items at lower prices compared to the local markets, but now with the prices hiked, I am not getting a fair price here either.”

Price variation in a week