Reza Mahmud :
Onion price increased by Tk 10 and five in the capitals retail and wholesale markets respectively on Saturday.
Traders blamed lockdown and increasing transport costs behind the sudden price hike.
Retailers had sold the home grown onion at Tk 50 till Friday but they were selling the item at Tk 60 in most kitchen markets in the capital on Saturday.
Sudden hike of the important essential kitchen itmem, make people worried as most of them are in financial crisis during the ongoing lockdown. Sources said, the whole sellers were sold the locally produced onion at Tk 37 to Tk 38 till Friday.
But on Saturday, the price increased by Tk five to seven and the price reached Tk 42 to Tk 45 per kg in wholesale markets at Karwanbazar and Shyambazar in the city.
Replying to a query about hiking price, Abdus Samad, a retailer at Jurain kitchen market said that they bought it adding Tk five to seven in per kg from the wholesale market on the day.
“The price has been increased in wholesale markets suddenly. In this circumstance, we automatically increased its price as we have no alternative,” said Abdus Samad.
Similarly, Ahmed Ali, from Malibagh bazar said, “Firstly the wholesale market price up, then the rickshaw van fare also increased due to lockdown. So, we bound to sell the item in increased price.”
He said, the buyers’ number is decreasing due to the strict lockdown.
As a result, our sell have been reduced. So, we have to increase price to cover the loss due to the reduced sell.
In Jatrabari-Sayedabad area, Siddiqur Rahman, a vendor was selling onion on a rickshaw van.
He said, “I used to sell onion buying it from Shyambazar every day. I try to sell all of the goods on day. Today the market price is high as a result I am selling it in additional price.”
Meanwhile, kitchen traders in Mirhajeerbagh and some other markets have sold the onion in Tk 48 to 50 as they brought it in previous days in low price.
The wholesale traders blaming the supply shortages due to the ongoing strict lockdown behind the onion price increasing trend.
“There is no adequate supply of the onion due to the lockdown. Besides, the onion importing from India, Turkey, Egypt and other countries are decreased for the pandemic,” said Hajee Mohammad Abdul Majeed, General Secretary of Shyambazar Onion Traders, Association.
He said, in absence of importing ones, the indigenous onion is only product to cover the market demands. Besides, he said, the transportation costs also increased due to the current strict lockdown.
“All of those are responsible for the price hike of the essential kitchen product,” said Abdul Majeed.
