Al Amin :
The soaring prices of essential commodities are causing huge sufferings to the low and middle- income groups of people throughout the country.
The price of onion is the highest, followed by most of winter vegetables and eggs.
Retailers said despite different measures taken by the government, onion price is not coming down due to inadequate supply.
Visiting different retail markets in the city, this correspondent found that the local brand of onion was selling at Tk 100-105 per kg, Indian onion at Tk 90 per kg while the onion imported from Myanmar at Tk 70-90 per kg.
Traders said, local onion stocks are heading towards exhaustion and there is a little chance of getting relief before November.
On the other hand, the consumers are less interested in the onion imported from Myanmar because of inferior taste. The imported onion from Myanmar and Egypt are not sufficient to meet the country’s demand.
On the other hand, the price of green chili was also high. Per kg chili was selling at Tk 100 which was Tk 60 in the previous week.
Prices of different winter vegetables and broiler eggs in the city markets have gone up recently.
Tomato was selling at Tk 110-120 a kg, Bean at Tk 100-120 per kg, Brinjal and Bitter gourd at Tk 60-70 per kg, Parble and sponge gourd at Tk 50-60 per Kg, Raddish at Tk 35-40, Carrot Tk 70-80 per kg, French and Cucarbitaceous were selling at Tk 50-60 per Kg.
While potato was selling at Tk 25 per kg, green papaya at Tk 25 per kg and small size Cauliflower was selling at Tk 30-35 each.
“The supply of the winter vegetable is comparatively less in the kitchen markets as the harvesting time is yet to come. However, the price of the winter vegetables will come down in the next month,” said Ariful Islam, vegetable traders in Jatrabari area.
Joel Mia, a consumer of the Kawran Bazar kitchen market, said that vegetable prices were rising gradually. “I have purchased parble item for Tk. 50 a kg, but its price was Tk. 40 only last week. Prices of essential commodities are increasing,” he added.
The price of broiler eggs increased over last week’s. The item was selling at Tk. 110-120 per dozen, up from last week’s Tk. 90-100 a dozen.
Md Selim, an egg retailer, said the demand for eggs was very high as poultry farmers have been unable to provide adequate quantities to meet the rising demand.
As for rice price, nazirsail was selling at Tk 56-60 at South Goran Bazar while the coarse rice at Tk 40-45 per Kg and the fish is costly on an average, consumers said.
