The prices of almost all essentials, including onions, eggs, broiler chickens, and vegetables, remained high on Friday in the capital鈥檚 kitchen markets.
After visiting some retail and wholesale markets, including Kallyanpur Natun Bazar, Agargaon Taltola Bazar, and Karwan Bazar, it was observed that onions were sold at Tk 80-85 per kilogram.
Moreover, the broiler chickens were sold at Tk 170-80 per kilogram, eggs were Tk 140-145 per dozen, and almost all vegetables ranged at Tk 80-100 or more.
Meanwhile, the prices of onions started to decline by Tk 7-10 at the wholesale level in various wholesale markets, following the announcement of importing onions to curb prices.
Earlier on Tuesday, commerce adviser Sk Bashir Uddin told the reporters that the government has decided to allow the import of onions from any country to increase its supply and ease the market price across the country.
鈥極ur main objective is to increase onion supply and reduce its prices. For this, onion will be imported from the countries where its prices are lower,鈥� he added.
However, though the import date and quantity have not been announced yet, the wholesale traders said that probably the amount would be 25 trucks or 300 metric tonnes.
Khalilur Rahman, a wholesale trader from Karwan Bazar, told 抖阴精品 that the prices of onions in the wholesale market dropped by Tk 7-10 per kg.
鈥楬owever, the possible amount of import would differ far from actual demand, the prices would be Tk 65-70 at wholesale level and Tk 75-80 at retail level even after import,鈥� he added.
He also said that the price of onions is higher even in producing regions like Pabna, Faridpur, Rajbari, and Khulna due to supply shortages, import halts, the rotting of almost 20-30 per cent of post-harvested onions, and excessive rainfall throughout the past months.
鈥楾here are little chances of reducing onion prices before the new harvesting season,鈥� he added.
The egg price reached Tk聽134-145 a dozen, which was Tk聽125-130 a dozen just two weeks ago.
The prices of broiler chicken have remained high for the past few weeks, and the item is sold at Tk 170-180 per kilogram at retail markets.
However, the prices of broiler chicken were Tk 160-170 at the wholesale markets like Karwan Bazar.
Traders reported that the markets had experienced a supply shortage of chicken and eggs due to excessive rainfall across the country in recent weeks, which had impacted prices.
The prices of almost all types of vegetables ranged from Tk聽70 to Tk聽120 a kilogram on Friday.
Green chillies were sold at Tk聽220-250 a kilogram on the retail market and Tk聽180-200 a kilogram on the wholesale market.
Spiny gourd was sold at Tk 80 a kilogram, the same as the past week, while snake gourd and pointed gourd were sold at Tk聽70-80 a kilogram on the market.
The price of okra was Tk聽70 per kilogram, while yard-long beans and bitter gourds were sold for Tk聽70-80 a kilogram.
Brinjal was sold at Tk 100-120 per kilogram at Karwan Bazar wholesale market.
Red chillies were sold for Tk聽450-500 a kilogram, depending on the variant.
Cucumbers were sold for Tk聽80-100 a kilogram.
The potatoes were sold at Tk 25-30 a kilogram.
However, the prices of the vegetables were about Tk聽20-30 or more higher per unit at neighbourhood markets of the capital.
Expressing disappointment, Sharmin Akter Runa, a housewife from the Paikpara area, said that it felt like the prices of all kinds of vegetables had suddenly gone up in the market.
鈥極ur income is limited, and we run a tight household budget. Even an extra Tk 200 in expenses puts pressure on other areas of spending,鈥� she added.
She also said that usually they turn to vegetables when fish and meat become dearer; however, vegetable prices have now surged as well, leaving them uneasy.
Md Imran Master, president of Bangladesh Kachamal Arat Samity, said that the country鈥檚 agriculture is currently in the lean season, a period of low production.
鈥楧uring this time, weather conditions leave farmland damp or waterlogged, limiting vegetable cultivation and reducing supply. As a result, vegetable prices in the market are currently high,鈥� he added.
The price of Miniket rice ranged from Tk 75 to Tk聽86 a kilogram, depending on the variant.
Beef was sold for Tk 750-780 a kilogram on Friday, while mutton was sold for Tk 1,100-1,250 a kilogram.
Packaged soya bean oil was sold for Tk聽189 per 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 169 per litre.
