bdnews24.com :
Prices of spices have gone up on rising demand as two main festivals of the Muslims and Hindus are being celebrated almost at the same time.
At the kitchen markets in Dhaka City, including Karwan Bazar, Fakirapool and Mugda, on Friday, spices were selling at prices higher than those in other times. Cardamom, clove, cinnamon, cumin seed, pepper, ginger, dried chilli, turmeric and garlic got pricier while the price of onion remained stable.
Retailers alleged that wholesalers raised prices of most of the spices exploiting the increased demand before Eid-ul-Azha and Durga Puja.
According to traders, cardamom imported from India’s Kerala and Tamil Nadu is now selling at Tk 1,500-1,600 a kg against Tk 1,400-1,500 a month before. Guatemala cardamom is selling at Tk 1,000-1,300 per kg against Tk 900-1,200, clove at Tk 1,250-1,500 against Tk 1,100-1,400, and cinnamon at Tk 275-310 against Tk 260-300.
The current prices of per kg pepper range from Tk 650 to 800, cumin seed from Tk 300 to 450, local ginger from Tk 200 to 220 and imported ginger from Tk 250 to 270.
Imported garlic is selling at Tk 80-90, local garlic at Tk 90-100, powdered turmeric at Tk 200-220, and dried chilli at Tk 150-220, The prices of per kg onion range from Tk 35 to 40, per litre soybean oil from Tk 80 to 90 and palm oil from Tk 70 to75.
Bangladesh Spices Wholesalers Association President Enayed Ullah, however, denied price spikes.
He told bdnews24.com: “The spices market has remained stable. Even the prices have dropped in some cases.” Durga Puja celebration is ending on Saturday while Eid-ul-Azha falls on Monday.
