Kamruzaman Bablu :
Prices of most essentials were high since the beginning of the year. For this reason, consumers have suffered the most from the prices of edible oil, rice, pulses, onions, fish, meat and vegetables.
In this situation, the market has started to be affected before passing the budget. In the last seven days, the prices of some products have gone up in the market. However, the traders said that it was not the effect of budget. But consumers claiming that the prices of products that are usually talked about in the budget can only go up. They (traders) increase the price of everything unfairly in the budget frenzy. But the products that are supposed to be reduced in price are not done.
In this situation, low-income people are under pressure to meet their needs. Moreover, the income of many has already decreased due to Corona. As a result, if the prices of daily commodities are not curbed, most of low and middle income people will face a terrible situation.
In the proposed budget for the FY- 21-22, it has been proposed to increase the tariff rate on carrot and mushroom imports. It is also proposed to fix minimum duty-able prices for carrots, mushrooms, green chillies, tomatoes, oranges and capsicums.
As a result, the prices of these products may go up, experts said. In addition, the budget has proposed to increase the existing tariff rate on industrial salt imports. It has also been proposed to increase the tariff rate on imported processed meat and fix the minimum tariffable price. As a result, the prices of these two products may go up, traders said.
Visiting the several markets in the capital and talking to buyers and sellers, it has found that the prices of most essential commodities are increasing in the market.
Among them, the prices of edible oil and onion have gone up the most. Besides, prices of rice, flours, garlic and pulses have gone up by just after placed the budget. Besides, the prices of fish, meat especially beef and domestic chicken are still high. Meanwhile, the price of powdered milk has also gone up.
Kamal Talukder, a grocer of New Market, told the New Nation that prices of rice might rise further amid a rocketing trend in the wholesale.
Ahmed Mamun, a private jobholder talked with this reporter at Jigatola kitchen Market said that prices of other essential commodities, including rice, went up before the budget was placed. The prices of the products that went up during Ramadan have not gone down yet, rather soaring. I bought beef at 500-550 kg before Ramadan. But during Ramadan and Eid the price of
beef is fixed at Tk.600 and still going on at that price. There is no sign to fall. As there is no one to see all this, the prices of some fish and beef are still high, which is beyond the purchasing power of ordinary people like us.
Meanwhile, visiting the different markets in the capital it was found that the prices of all types of rice including fine, medium and coarse, have gone up by Tk. 1 to 2 per kg in the last three days. Miniket rice is now being sold at Tk 6o to 66 which was available at Tk 60 to 64 just three days ago. The coarse rice is selling at Tk 50 to 52 per kg, which was earlier between Tk 48 to 50.
Abu Osman, owner of Janata Rice in Kawran Bazar, said that the rice market is not stable even after the new Boro rice came to the market. The price of new rice is a bit lower, but the price of one is higher.
Besides rice, flour and meal prices have also gone up. The price of a packet of flour, which was Tk 32 to 34 per kg, has gone up and is now being sold at Tk 34 to 36. The packet of flour is being sold at Tk 44 to 48 per kg, which was earlier between Tk 42 and Tk 44.
On the other hand, buyers have to pay extra money to buy edible oil. Soybean oil sells at Tk 135 to Tk 140 per litter which was between Tk 130 and Tk 135 on Friday. The Palm Super is being sold at Tk 120 to Tk 125, which was earlier available at Tk 115 to Tk 120.
The price of Soybean oil had gone up long before the budget, and bottled soybean oil began to sell at a higher price the day after the budget.
Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) also recorded a 3.0 per cent hike in rice prices in a week, while the current prices of coarse and medium varieties are nearly 13 per cent higher than those in a year ago.
“Considering the situation, we have already started operation of truck sale again after Eid in the capital and beyond with 400 trucks” Humayun Kabir, spokesperson of TCB, said the New Nation on Saturday.
Retailers say that some dishonest businessmen have already raised prices in consultation with the government. On the occasion of the budget, extra soybean bottles have already arrived in the market. Before the budget, the 5 liter bottle of soybean oil was sold at Tk 665 and now it is being sold at Tk 728.
Besides, the price of onion has gone up further twice. Domestic onions, which were sold at Tk 45 per kg last Friday, are now being sold at Tk 60 to 70. Hybrid onions have been sold at Tk 50 to Tk 52 since last Thursday. With the race of hiking price, garlic price also rose. The price of imported garlic has gone up from Tk 140 to Tk 150 per kg, compared between Tk 120 to Tk 130 on Friday. Similarly, the price of lentil pulses sprang by Tk 5 per kg, vendors said.
Meanwhile, the price of vegetables has suddenly jumped in the sky. According to the sellers, brinjal price has almost doubled in a day. It is being sold at Tk 50-60 per kg in retail market.
Cucumbers sold for Tk 40 last week are now Tk 70. A pumpkin of Tk 35 is being sold now at Tk 40-50 each.
