Staff Reporter :
The price of most of the essential commodities rose sharply in the city markets on the first day of the Ramadan without any valid reason.
On average, the price of four vegetable items namely aubergine, cucumber, green chilli and onion rose by from 11 percent to 88 percent in last one month. Perveen Sultana, a housewife, bought one kg of aubergine at Tk 80 from a roadside vendor at Kathal Bagan on Monday. It was Tk 50 two weeks ago.
Cucumber price shot up to Tk 60 per kg on Monday from Tk 30 only a week ago, she said. At Karwan Bazar, four pieces of standard-size lemons were selling at Tk 25 to 30 which was Tk 15 only several days ago.
Though green chilli selling at Tk 40-60 per kg a month ago, now sells at Tk 100 to 120 At Malibag kitchen market, retailers were selling locally produced onions at Tk 40 a kg, up from Tk 34 a week ago.
Though the government has imposed a ban on exports of aubergine, garlic, cucumber, green chilli, lemon and coriander leaves till July 31 to ensure adequate supply during Ramadan, and to check price hike, it certainly has not worked as expected.
“The price of some vegetables has increased mainly due to supply shortage,” said Mohammad Sayed, President of Shyambazar Krishi Panya Aarot Banik Samity, blaming the supply shortfall in last few weeks.
The price of garlic rose by 15.38 percent, selling at Tk 60-Tk 90 per kg compared with that of the previous month, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.
“Onion price is increasing mainly due to low production in India,” said Arup Saha, an onion wholesaler at Shyambazar.
India has recently doubled the export price of onion. It is now $300 a tonne, he said adding that this is likely to fuel onion price hike in Bangladesh markets as traders squeeze supply.
Onion imports went up 76 percent in the first 10 months of the outgoing fiscal year and onion worth $153 million was imported, according to the LC settlement statistics of Bangladesh Bank.
Besides, LCs for importing onion increased by 78 percent and LCs worth $165 million were opened for importing spices, which are in high demand for preparing iftar items during Ramadan.
The annual domestic demand for onion is 22 lakh tonnes. The country produced 13.58 lakh tonnes.The government, however, claims the country has adequate stock of onion.
“There is no reason to hike price during Ramadan as the country has adequate supply of essential items,” the commerce ministry yesterday said in a statement.
The ministry also warned traders of punitive actions for any attempt to make too much profit during Ramadan.
The price of bottled cooking oil remained unchanged. A 5-litre jar of edible oil was selling at Tk 545-560 yesterday. The price of gram, lentil and date has remained stable.
The price of most of the essential commodities rose sharply in the city markets on the first day of the Ramadan without any valid reason.
On average, the price of four vegetable items namely aubergine, cucumber, green chilli and onion rose by from 11 percent to 88 percent in last one month. Perveen Sultana, a housewife, bought one kg of aubergine at Tk 80 from a roadside vendor at Kathal Bagan on Monday. It was Tk 50 two weeks ago.
Cucumber price shot up to Tk 60 per kg on Monday from Tk 30 only a week ago, she said. At Karwan Bazar, four pieces of standard-size lemons were selling at Tk 25 to 30 which was Tk 15 only several days ago.
Though green chilli selling at Tk 40-60 per kg a month ago, now sells at Tk 100 to 120 At Malibag kitchen market, retailers were selling locally produced onions at Tk 40 a kg, up from Tk 34 a week ago.
Though the government has imposed a ban on exports of aubergine, garlic, cucumber, green chilli, lemon and coriander leaves till July 31 to ensure adequate supply during Ramadan, and to check price hike, it certainly has not worked as expected.
“The price of some vegetables has increased mainly due to supply shortage,” said Mohammad Sayed, President of Shyambazar Krishi Panya Aarot Banik Samity, blaming the supply shortfall in last few weeks.
The price of garlic rose by 15.38 percent, selling at Tk 60-Tk 90 per kg compared with that of the previous month, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.
“Onion price is increasing mainly due to low production in India,” said Arup Saha, an onion wholesaler at Shyambazar.
India has recently doubled the export price of onion. It is now $300 a tonne, he said adding that this is likely to fuel onion price hike in Bangladesh markets as traders squeeze supply.
Onion imports went up 76 percent in the first 10 months of the outgoing fiscal year and onion worth $153 million was imported, according to the LC settlement statistics of Bangladesh Bank.
Besides, LCs for importing onion increased by 78 percent and LCs worth $165 million were opened for importing spices, which are in high demand for preparing iftar items during Ramadan.
The annual domestic demand for onion is 22 lakh tonnes. The country produced 13.58 lakh tonnes.The government, however, claims the country has adequate stock of onion.
“There is no reason to hike price during Ramadan as the country has adequate supply of essential items,” the commerce ministry yesterday said in a statement.
The ministry also warned traders of punitive actions for any attempt to make too much profit during Ramadan.
The price of bottled cooking oil remained unchanged. A 5-litre jar of edible oil was selling at Tk 545-560 yesterday. The price of gram, lentil and date has remained stable.
