The prices of almost all daily essentials maintained their high levels on Friday as they have for past several months, offering no respite to consumers.聽
Meanwhile, some vegetables and onions witnessed a decline in wholesale prices, though the retail market is yet to get the fruits.
The prices of flour, atta and lentils had gone up over the past three to four weeks and remained unchanged.
The price of eggs witnessed a slight decline to Tk 135-145 per dozen, from Tk 150 per dozen, at most of the capital鈥檚 kitchen markets.
After visiting the kitchen markets of Kallyanpur Natun Bazar, Agargaon Taltola Bazar and Karwan Bazar wholesale market, it was observed that onions were sold at Tk 80 a kilogram, as in the past few months.
In some kitchen markets and vendor shops, it was sold at Tk 70-75 a kilogram.
Meanwhile, Kalam Sheikh, proprietor of Matri Bhander of Karwan Bazar, told 抖阴精品 that the price of onions at the wholesale level slightly dropped to Tk 55-65 a kilogram.
鈥楾he prices at the wholesale level dropped slightly; however, the impact is yet to be visible at the retail level. The prices at the retail level should also be dropped,鈥� he added.
On Friday, prices of broiler chicken remained high and the item sold at Tk聽170-190 a kilogram, while Sonali chicken sold at Tk聽300-340 a kilogram and domestic chicken at Tk聽700-800 a kilogram.
Almost all vegetables were above Tk 80 a kilogram, which was almost the same as in the past several months.聽
Among major vegetables, green chillies were sold at Tk聽190-200 a kilogram on retail markets and Tk聽150-170 a kilogram at Karwan Bazar.
Spiny gourd was sold at Tk聽80 a kilogram, the same as the past week, while pointed gourds聽were sold at Tk聽70-80 a kilogram on the day.
The price of okra was Tk聽80-90 a kilogram, while yard-long beans and bitter gourds were sold for Tk聽90-100 a kilogram.
Aubergine was sold at Tk 80-100 a kilogram on the Karwan Bazar wholesale market.
Red chillies were sold for Tk聽350-500 a kilogram, depending on the variant.
Cucumbers were sold for Tk聽80 a kilogram at Karwan Bazar, while tomatoes were sold at Tk 120-140 a kilogram.
Potatoes were sold at Tk 25 a kilogram, papaya at Tk 30, taro runner at Tk 60, and taro stem at Tk 50 a kilogram.
Bottle gourd was sold at Tk 50-70 apiece based on the variant.
Prices of vegetables were about Tk聽20-30 higher per unit on neighbourhood markets in the capital compared with on wholesale markets.
Nazrul Islam, a private sector employee who came to Kallyanpur Natun Bazar, said that聽for the past three months, the excessive prices of vegetables had made it difficult for ordinary consumers to purchase them properly.
鈥楳ost of them curbed their buying capacity, like half a kilogram or 250 grams. However, the prices have been stable at a high price for the past few weeks, leaving us uncertain about a future hike or decrease,鈥� he added.聽
Md Imran Master, president of Bangladesh Kachamal Arat Malik Samity, told 抖阴精品 that the country鈥檚 agriculture was currently in the lean season.
鈥業 couldn鈥檛 agree with the term 鈥榟igh-price鈥� as the prolonged monsoon led the farmland to remain聽damp or waterlogged, which hindered the cultivation,鈥� he added.
The farmers were working hard to produce more but could not keep pace with nature, he added, saying that prices would be lower when the fresh seasonal produce starts arriving.
Some early-season vegetables were also visible on the markets, though they were sold at high prices, like beans sold at Tk 180-200 a kilogram, while early-season radish was at Tk 80-90 a kilogram.
Meanwhile, on September 4, in a letter to the commerce ministry, the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission acknowledged that the prices of vegetables and eggs witnessed a sharp hike due to the prolonged monsoon rain.
鈥楧ue to the lean season, the price of onions witnessed a hike, where the prices of other vegetables, eggs, and chillies also surged due to the prolonged monsoon,鈥� the report added.
The report also recommended allowing聽import if the retail price of eggs crosses Tk聽150 for a dozen and that of onion crosses Tk聽90 for a kilogram.
According to the TCB data, the packaged atta was sold at Tk 65-70 a kilogram and unpackaged atta was sold at Tk 52 a kilogram on Friday.
Packaged maida was sold at Tk聽75 a kilogram, while its unpackaged variant was sold at Tk聽65 a kilogram.
Fish were also sold at high prices for the past few weeks, with Hilsa being sold at Tk 1,300-3,000 a kilogram based on size.聽
Among other popular varieties, Boal was selling at Tk 750鈥�900 a kilogram, farmed Ruhi at Tk 380-450 a kilogram, Katla at Tk 380-480 a kilogram, Tilapia at Tk 180鈥�220 a kilogram, Pangas at Tk 180鈥�230 a kilogram, Koi at Tk 200鈥�220 a kilogram and Pabda and Shing at Tk 400鈥�500 a kilogram.
On Friday, the price of Miniket rice ranged from Tk 75 to Tk聽84 a kilogram, depending on the variant, while Paijam or Athash was sold at Tk 60-70 a kilogram and the coarse variant at Tk 55-60 a kilogram.
Packaged soya bean oil was sold for Tk聽189 a litre, and a five-litre bottle of the item cost Tk 922. In contrast, the prices of unpackaged soya bean oil and palm oil were Tk 170 per litre.
The price of beef remained stable at Tk 750-800 a kilogram and mutton at Tk聽1,100-1,200 a kilogram on the day.
