S.A Shofiee, Sylhet :
Prices of vegetables have come down with the huge supply of winter vegetables in the local markets. Different kinds of winter vegetables grow a plenty in Dakshin Surma, Biswnath and Golapgonj upazilas of the district this Robi season. It is found at a number of whole-sale vegetable markets in different upazilas of the district farmers are selling their vegetables at lower prices. Been, brinjal and beet are selling at Tk 500 to 550 per maund, cauliflower and cabbage are selling at Tk 800 to 1000 per hundred, gourd and pumpkin are selling at Tk 20 to 30 each according to size, tomato at Tk 1,600 to 2,000 per maund.
Besides, radish is selling at Tk 200 to 220 per maund, lal-shak and spinach are selling at Tk 400 to 450 per maund.
On the other hand, prices of rice have also registered a slight fall with the arrival of new Aman rice in the market of the district.
Some traders of the district said the prices would come down further with adequate supply of new rice in the markets. Coarse variety of rice is being sold Tk 34 to Tk 35 per kg against Tk 37 to Tk 38 per kg fifteen days ago. Medium variety of rice sells at Tk 38 to Tk 42 against Tk 44 to Tk 45 per kg while fine rice sells at Tk 45 to 48 which was sold at Tk 50 to Tk 52 per kg fifteen days ago. There has been a good production of Aman paddy in the district this year. Farmers of the district are happy for producing more Aman paddy this season.
Hawkers rule footpaths
Encroachment on footpaths of the roads in the Sylhet city by hawkers continues to cause sufferings to the pedestrians and contribute to gridlock.
Hawkers with their goods sit on the footpaths leaving no space for movement and forcing pedestrians to walk through the streets.
The worst scenario prevails at sidewalks along some two kilometres area stretching from Station Road to Kinbridge.
The similar scenario is also seen at infront of Zila parishad, Surma Point, Court point, Zindabazar, Bandarbazar.
There are four educational institutes including Agrogami Girls’ High School, Durgakumar Primary School, Sylhet Womens College and Modon Muhon College in City area.
Students of these educational institutions get bitter experience everyday while passing by the footpaths under illegal occupation.
There are also pickpockets to accomplish job in the crowd on these footpaths.
Laboni, a student of Agrogami Girls’ High School Said “It is difficult for us to make way while going to school. We are often compelled to use the main road.”
Riazul Islam, a banker, said, “We face problem when we walk through Amborkhana road. Hawkers always keep half of this one-way road occupied.”
Earlier, the hawkers used these footpaths during major festivals like Eid-ul-Fitr and Durga Puja. But now they run business all the year round.
Ahead of any festival hawkers of these organisations erect makeshift shops on footpaths blocking view of the permanent shops in the neighbouring markets and lock in clash with the shop owners.
Md. Rohmat Ullah, assistant commissioner Sylhet Metropolitan Police, told that “We always try to keep the pavements free for the pedestrians. In a recent meeting with hawkers we asked them to keep at least 50 per cent of the footpaths free.”
Prices of vegetables have come down with the huge supply of winter vegetables in the local markets. Different kinds of winter vegetables grow a plenty in Dakshin Surma, Biswnath and Golapgonj upazilas of the district this Robi season. It is found at a number of whole-sale vegetable markets in different upazilas of the district farmers are selling their vegetables at lower prices. Been, brinjal and beet are selling at Tk 500 to 550 per maund, cauliflower and cabbage are selling at Tk 800 to 1000 per hundred, gourd and pumpkin are selling at Tk 20 to 30 each according to size, tomato at Tk 1,600 to 2,000 per maund.
Besides, radish is selling at Tk 200 to 220 per maund, lal-shak and spinach are selling at Tk 400 to 450 per maund.
On the other hand, prices of rice have also registered a slight fall with the arrival of new Aman rice in the market of the district.
Some traders of the district said the prices would come down further with adequate supply of new rice in the markets. Coarse variety of rice is being sold Tk 34 to Tk 35 per kg against Tk 37 to Tk 38 per kg fifteen days ago. Medium variety of rice sells at Tk 38 to Tk 42 against Tk 44 to Tk 45 per kg while fine rice sells at Tk 45 to 48 which was sold at Tk 50 to Tk 52 per kg fifteen days ago. There has been a good production of Aman paddy in the district this year. Farmers of the district are happy for producing more Aman paddy this season.
Hawkers rule footpaths
Encroachment on footpaths of the roads in the Sylhet city by hawkers continues to cause sufferings to the pedestrians and contribute to gridlock.
Hawkers with their goods sit on the footpaths leaving no space for movement and forcing pedestrians to walk through the streets.
The worst scenario prevails at sidewalks along some two kilometres area stretching from Station Road to Kinbridge.
The similar scenario is also seen at infront of Zila parishad, Surma Point, Court point, Zindabazar, Bandarbazar.
There are four educational institutes including Agrogami Girls’ High School, Durgakumar Primary School, Sylhet Womens College and Modon Muhon College in City area.
Students of these educational institutions get bitter experience everyday while passing by the footpaths under illegal occupation.
There are also pickpockets to accomplish job in the crowd on these footpaths.
Laboni, a student of Agrogami Girls’ High School Said “It is difficult for us to make way while going to school. We are often compelled to use the main road.”
Riazul Islam, a banker, said, “We face problem when we walk through Amborkhana road. Hawkers always keep half of this one-way road occupied.”
Earlier, the hawkers used these footpaths during major festivals like Eid-ul-Fitr and Durga Puja. But now they run business all the year round.
Ahead of any festival hawkers of these organisations erect makeshift shops on footpaths blocking view of the permanent shops in the neighbouring markets and lock in clash with the shop owners.
Md. Rohmat Ullah, assistant commissioner Sylhet Metropolitan Police, told that “We always try to keep the pavements free for the pedestrians. In a recent meeting with hawkers we asked them to keep at least 50 per cent of the footpaths free.”
