UNB :
The soaring price of essentials in anticipation of the strict lockdown in Khulna has increased the sufferings of the low and middle-income earners. They have been struggling to make ends meet. Surviving seems to be the hardest challenge for them now.
The prices of edible oil, vegetables and other essentials were on the rise due to the multiple syndicates in the market, claimed many consumers.
The lack of price monitoring reinforced the syndicates and unscrupulous practices of the traders.
For over a month bottled edible Soybean oil (5 litres) was being sold for Tk 680-700. Non-bottled edible oil was Tk 140 per litre.
This week as well, the price of almost all vegetables including onions, green chili, potato, papaya, brinjal, cucumber, pumpkin increased by Tk 10-20 per kilogram.
Saiful Islam, a trader in Sandha Bazar in Sher-e-Bangla Road, said prices of all vegetables and essentials were trending high. The strict lockdown in the district leaves no room for the prices of essentials to decrease.
Meanwhile in different retail markets of the town, lentils were sold for Tk 75-120 which had been sold last week for Tk 70-110.
In this situation consumers sought the intervention of higher authorities for price monitoring.
