Wholesale onion price drop not reflected in Chattogram retail market
Consumers demand strict monitoring in the retail market
Onion price has jumped in the retail market of Chattogram despite a decrease by Tk30 per kilogram in the wholesale market.
The price of per kilogram onion was Tk200-220 on Friday in different retail markets of Chattogram which was Tk160 a week ago.
Last week, 3,000 tonnes of onions were imported from China and Egypt through the Chattogram port.
Consumers complained that the district administration conducted drive in the wholesale market, but there is no monitoring in the retail market. They demanded strict monitoring in the retail market to control the price of onions.
SM Najer Hossain, central vice president of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), said, "A group of dishonest businessmen are increasing the onion price by using the inactivity of the administration. The market must be monitored by the administration regularly."
After visiting the Lalkhan Bazar, Kajir Deuri Bazar and Chak Bazar area of Chattogram, our correspondent reported that per kilogram onion is being sold at Tk215-220 in the retail market. Per kilogram of Indian, Myanmar and Egyptian onions are being sold at Tk220, Tk180, Tk150 respectively.
"In every sack of onion, we find that at least four to five kilograms are rotten. So, we have to raise the price to recover from the loss," said Nasir Uddin, a retail trader at Kajir Deuri Bazar.
Another trader of the market named Suman said, "The supply is lower than the demand in the market. That is why onion price is high in the retail market."
Md Edris, secretary of Khatunganj's Hamid Ullah Market Traders Association, said, "Onion price is downward in the wholesale market. Prices of different types of onions have been decreased by Tk30 to Tk35 per kilogram in three days.
Around 15 trucks of onions arrived from India one week ago. If the retail price is above Tk180 per kilogram, it is robbery."
Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Md Illias Hossain said, "If the price in the wholesale market falls, it will take time for the retail market to take effect. Onion price will decrease within one or two days in the retail market."
