DUE to ineffective market monitoring, failure to disband the syndicate and inappropriate focus on farming have intensified the crisis of the kitchen product onion. At present, the onion has become dearer to the eaters. On Wednesday onion was selling for Tk 180 and but it reached Tk 200/220 on Thursday putting the cooking ingredient out of marginal people’s kitchens. The price jumped after Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun mocked the citizens saying the onion price was under control.
The government failed to tackle the situation though the prices kept rising in the last couple of days. Retail price of the local variety was Tk 160 a kg on Wednesday morning in the capital, Tk 10 more than the evening before. It kept rising as the hours went by. The wholesale price was lower by Tk 10 to 15. Supply shortage and bad weather have driven the prices upwards, retailers and wholesalers said, adding that the essential spice may sell for Tk 250 next week.
Onion prices were hiked two months ago after India, largest exporter of onion to Bangladesh, put export restrictions. However, the Egyptian variety was selling for Tk 135-150. Besides, vegetables, garlic, ginger and soybean oil have also become pricier by Tk 5 to 30 per kg in a week. One kg of cauliflower was selling at Tk 50 to 60, up from Tk 25 to 35 four days ago. Besides, prices of other winter vegetables, including cabbage, carrot and radish, also went up by Tk 10 to 20. Prices of bottled Soybean oil rose by about Tk 5 a litre.
We think the price soaring of essential items is not natural rather artificial maneuvering by some influential syndicates. But what’s surprising is that despite various attempts taken by the government, it was not possible to take control of the onion market from the grip of syndicates. Some Ministers and government officials earlier had said enough quantity of onion would reach Chattogram Port within a very short time as a number of big business houses opened LC (Letter of Credit) in different banks to import the item. Where are the ships now loaded with onions? Like other times, the people have bluffed again. No doubt, government has lost control over the market.
