Eggplant price exceeds Tk100, cucumber reaches Tk80

Highlights-

• In the last few days, vegetable prices increased 2 to 3 times
• Eggplants sold for Tk40 per kg last week, which now exceeds Tk100
• Cucumber sold for Tk20 per kg last week, which is now Tk80
• Beef, mutton prices remained unchanged
• A syndicate is allegedly behind the rise in prices of daily commodities on the pretext of
• Vegetable prices increased due to disruption in transportation

The prices of vegetables, including eggplants and cucumbers, are increasing due to the ongoing lockdown and the high demand for these daily commodities during the month of Ramadan.

The price of per kg eggplant has already exceeded Tk100 while per kg cucumber is selling for Tk80.

The prices of most vegetables, including lemons, mint leaves, coriander leaves, and onions, increased this week. At the same time, the prices of eggs, edible oil, rice, and fish remained unchanged. However, chicken prices went down.

Traders are increasing the prices of commodities under the excuse of lockdown and putting ordinary people in critical situations, consumers complained.

But traders claim that the prices of commodities are rising due to transportation problems and supply being lower than demand. Prices will come under control in a few days, they added.

During visits to several kitchen markets of the capital, including Karwan Bazar, Hatirpool, Kanthal Bagan, and Mogbazar on Friday morning, this correspondent saw that eggplants were sold for Tk80-100 per kg, cucumbers Tk60-80 per kg, and carrots Tk30-40 per kg.

Moreover, beans were sold for Tk30-40 per kg, radishes Tk40 per kg, ladies finger Tk50-60 per kg, tomatoes Tk30-40 per kg, barbati Tk60 per kg, chichinga Tk50-60 per kg, pointed gourd Tk50-60 per kg, taro stolon Tk70 per kg, green chilies Tk60 per kg, and lemons at Tk60-120 (four pieces).

Last week, eggplants were sold for Tk40 per kg, cucumbers Tk20 per kg, and tomatoes Tk20 per kg. In the last few days, the prices of vegetables increased two to three times. Onions were sold at Tk40 per kg, with an increase of Tk5.

Limon, who went to Karwan Bazar to buy vegetables, said he had to buy papayas for Tk30 per kg, which was Tk20 earlier. "The prices of everything increased two times."

Another buyer, Mohammad Ali Madbar, said he had initially planned to buy half a kilogramme of cucumber but finally bought only two cucumbers for 10 people. "The lockdown has already killed us and the rise in commodity prices will punch another blow."

Kaniz Fatema, who went to Hatirpool kitchen market, told The Business Standard the prices of everything were too high. "What will we eat and how will we live?"

Consumers alleged that a syndicate was behind the increase in the prices of commodities.

Sohel, a vegetable seller at Karwan Bazar, told TBS that everything was very expensive.

"We have to buy cucumbers for Tk70 per kg. So we are selling it for Tk80 per kg. On Thursday, we sold cucumbers for Tk120."

Prices of beef and mutton remained unchanged. Beef was sold for Tk580 per kg and mutton Tk700-750 per kg. Besides, chicken prices were slightly lower, with broiler sold at Tk150 per kg, Pakistani chicken Tk280 per kg, and layer chicken Tk220 per kg.

Meanwhile, sugar was sold for Tk70 per kg, BR-28 rice Tk45-48 per kg, Miniket Tk75 per kg, Nazir Tk65-70 per kg, Shworna rice Tk48-50 per kg, and polao rice Tk90-100 per kg.

A litre of non-bottled edible oil was sold for Tk135-139. A dozen of red eggs were sold for Tk85. The price of duck eggs went down to Tk135 a dozen while domestic chicken eggs were sold for Tk180 per dozen.

Wholesalers at Karwan Bazar said vegetable prices had increased on Thursday due to disruptions in transportations on the first day of the nationwide lockdown but prices had decreased slightly on Friday.

They said the prices of vegetables were higher than last week.

Saidul, a chicken seller in Moghbazar, told TBS that chicken prices were higher for the last two days. "Today the price is a little bit lower. It may increase again if demand increases."

Idris Ali, a vegetable wholesaler at Karwan Bazar, told TBS they had to pay more in extortion during transportations. "Traders had to pay Tk500 to bring a sack of lemons from Sayedabad."