News Desk :
Prices of essential commodities have increased compared to last few weeks, while all kinds of vegetable and fish are being sold at higher prices as earlier.
Prices of rice have increased Tk 2 to Tk 3 per kg. Fine rice is being sold at Tk 64 to Tk 66 per kg.
On the other hand, although prices of ginger and garlic are unchanged, prices of onion has risen to Tk 20 per kg. Pries of soybean oil have also increased to Tk 6 taka to Tk 7 per litre.
Meanwhile, prices of all kinds of chicken have increased by Tk 15 to Tk 20 per kg.
Prices are higher in the fish market as well. Buyers alleged that the prices essential commodities have gone out of their reach. On the other hand, beef and mutton are being sold at higher prices as earlier.
After visiting some city kitchen markets, it was found that prices of potatoes and other different essential spices were stable compared to the last couple of days.
Commenting on the situation, a vegetable vendor at the city’s Adabor Bazar, told the media that prices of almost all the vegetables are unstable, maintaining the previous hike.
He is retailing the brinjal both round and long at Tk 60-Tk 70 per kg.
The vegetable vendor said that per kg of bitter gourd at Tk 80
Pumpkins are being sold at Tk 40-Tk 45 each. Per kg of tomato is being sold at Tk 40.
While per kg of green chilly is Tk 80, per kg of cucumber is 60 and per kg of gherkin is being sold at Tk 50 .
In such circumstances, consumers complain that they can’t keep pace with the increased price of daily commodities.
Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said prices of edible oil, pulses and sugar increased in the international market.
“Prices of edible oil, pulses and sugar have soared
in the international market. Edible oil worth Tk600 per ton has risen to $1,300 in the international market. At the same time, the price of pulses has also gone up. Our annual demand for edible oil is 35 to 40 lakh ton, 90 per cent of which has to be imported from abroad,” the minister said while speaking at a press conference at Rangpur Circuit House auditorium on Friday.
He further said 10 percent of the oil comes from mustard produced in the country.
Tipu Munshi warned that stiff actions will be taken against those traders who will be involved in hiking price of essentials like edible oil, pulses and sugar.
“Many unscrupulous traders raise prices whenever they get a chance. Therefore, from now on, strict action will be taken if edible oil, pulses and sugar are sold at more than the price fixed by the Tariff Commission,” he said.
Necessary instructions have been given to the deputy commissioners to check the price hike of essential commodities, said Tipu Munshi.
Eventually, the minister said the government is trying to keep the prices of essentials at an endurable level.
