Staff Reporter, Kishoreganj :
Traders are hiking prices of sugar, edible oil, onion, green chili, egg, and atta constantly which has made the low and marginal-income people to suffer untold suffering.
The prices of local egg and green chilis in Kishoreganj’s grocery shops and and kitchen markets skyrocketed in the last three days, which traders have blamed on a shortage of supply.
The soybean oil has reached tk.160 per litre, while sugar caught tk.85 per kg. Onion prices settled at Tk70 to 78 per kg as of Thursday – about Tk-20 to 25higher than the prices charged three days ago.
Green chili prices settled at Tk180 per kg on Thursday which is about Tk80 more than the prices charged three days ago. After a month and a half of closure due to rising prices in the country’s market, the import of chili resumed from September 25 through the Hili port, according to sources at the port.
Prise hiking of these most essential items has perplexed the lower income group of people, while the retailers, the whole sellers and mill owners are making extra profits.
Meanwhile, the price fixed by the government remained ignored.
On September 5, the ministry of commerce fixed tk.129 per litre as price for the soybean oil and on September 9, it fixed tk.74-75 as sugar prices.
Hajee Md. Nazimuddin, a grocer at Bara Bazar also said the shortage in supply had been caused by low imports.
“Moreover, onion and green chili are usually in high demand ahead of the Durga Puja,” he added.
Karim , a rickshaw puller, said: “Green chili prices have gone up by a lot, how can I afford it? The government should import more to stabilize the prices. Only 250g green chili is worth Tk 45.
“Should I buy rice and vegetables or just feed green chili or onion to my family?” he said. Bilkis Begum, vice-president of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) in Kishoreganj said some unscrupulous treaders seek opportunities in every situation.
