Business Desk :
The prices of onion, garlic and chicken have gone up again in the wet markets of Dhaka compared to the prices of last week.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the price of locally grown onions has risen by about 60% in one week, with the essential going for Tk80 per kg in the market from Tk50-55 per kg last week.
Onions sold for Tk60-65 per kg last month, so prices have seen a 26% hike from November. Moreover, the prices of imported onions have also gone up compared to the previous week, being sold at a maximum of Tk60 per kg, which was Tk40-Tk45 last week.
The price of imported garlic has also risen by Tk30-50 per kg, selling for Tk170 per kg on Saturday – up from the Tk120-Tk140 per kg prices last week. And local garlic was being sold at Tk70 per kg, which was Tk30 last week, TCB data shows. Poultry has also gotten more expensive, selling for Tk160 per kg – up by Tk20 per kg from last week.
The price of flour is also increasing, according to market traders and wholesalers.
Loose flour, the price of which has been on the rise since December 6, is still being sold at a higher price of Tk50 per kg, up from Tk40-Tk45 in the previous week.
Potatoes are also being sold at higher prices; last week, old potatoes cost Tk20 per kg, but prices ranged between Tk25 and Tk30 per kg this week.
Moreover, the price of ginger, cardamom, and eggs have also gone up, TCB data shows.
Although winter is the peak season for vegetables, prices for them are also on the rise. However, at the Shah Ali kitchen market in Mirpur, sellers claimed the prices of most winter vegetables are normal, but a few blamed increased transportation costs for price hikes.
Buyers refuted the claims, saying that prices are much higher than other winter seasons. They said a green gourd cost Tk70-80, while cabbage and cauliflower were being sold at Tk30-Tk50 per piece.
However, Hasan Mamhud, a private job holder, said: “The prices of essential goods have risen abnormally in the last few months and it has become difficult to take the pressure of that. Stable prices also do not necessarily mean that they are affordable.” Spinach are being sold at Tk15-Tk40, based on the variant.
Green tomatoes are being sold at Tk30 per kg whereas ripe tomatoes at Tk60-Tk100, based on quality. Carrots are being sold at Tk60 per kg, beans at Tk30-Tk40, eggplants at Tk40-Tk50, and radish at Tk40 per kg, according to market traders.
