S.A. Shofiee, Sylhet :
Prices of essentials went up slightly in the Sylhet city due to higher transportation cost amid three days’ hartal since Monday the roadside shops also experienced dull business during the hartal days as the owners kept their shops shut to avoid any untoward incidents during the hartal hours.
While visiting Bondar Bazaar, one of the largest wholesale and retail kitchen markets of the capital, it was seen that prices of potato, green chili, cucumber, ladies finger, brinjal and other items went up due to the hartal.
Potato has been retailing at Tk 27-28 a kg, up from Tk 25 last week, green chili was selling at Tk 120-140 per kg, up from Tk 120-Tk 130 last week while cucumber prices went up to Tk 40-50 a kg from Tk 35-45 per kg last week.
Bitter gourd was selling at Tk 50 a kg, bean at Tk 80 per kg and green papaya was selling between Tk 25 and 30 per kg. Traders said the prices of the items have soared by Tk 1 to 3 a kg during the hartal.
One Shorif Uddin, who brought potato from Comilla, told this correspondent that he had to spend additional Tk 2,000 for transporting a truck-load of potato to the capital during the hartal.
Riaj uddin, who owns a vegetable depot at Subhanighat Bazaar, also said the wholesalers had to bear additional transportation cost for bringing chili from Narsingdi during the hartal.
Meanwhile, many roadside shops and restaurants were seen closed Monday due to thin presence of customers and fear of insecurity. Anis Uddin, owner of Pakshi Hotel and Restaurant at Bondar Bazar, said he did not open his cafe as there were almost no customers. He also said he also feared that his restaurant could come under attack if it were open. He also said his restaurant saw bleak business during the last two days.
