The prices of daily kitchen essentials were still beyond the reach of ordinary consumers on Friday, even as kitchen markets were brimming with winter vegetables.
Though prices have not risen compared to last week, they remained far from affordable for most buyers, as most vegetables were selling between Tk 80 and Tk 100 a kilogram.
Onions were selling at higher prices, Tk 100-120 a kilogram, for the past few weeks, while potatoes witnessed a fresh hike to Tk 25-30 from Tk 20-25 a week ago.
After visiting several kitchen markets, including Kallyanpur Natun Bazar, Agargaon Taltola Bazar and Karwan Bazar wholesale market, it was observed that the markets had a substantial supply of early winter vegetables.
Regarding potato prices, traders said that potatoes had been selling at low prices for a聽long period this year, leaving many farmers facing losses.
Despite the slight hike, potato prices were still significantly lower than that at the same time last year, when they sold for Tk 65-75 a kilogram, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the newly harvested potatoes were also available on the market, selling at a higher price of Tk 150-170 a kilogram.
The price of onions, another essential kitchen staple, also remained high at Tk 100-120 a kilogram, which was Tk 70-80 just three weeks ago, amid a supply crunch at the end of the season.聽
Traders said that stocks of locally produced onions had nearly run out and new onions would begin to arrive on the market in about a month.
Kamal Sheikh, a wholesale trader from Karwan Bazar, said that allowing imports might help stabilise the market.
鈥楬owever, the government has not given any permission to import onions, though importers applied for it,鈥� he added.
Early variants of 鈥榤urikata onions鈥� arrived on the markets and were selling at Tk 50 a kilogram, a price that could decline further once sufficient supply arrives.
Among notable vegetables, beans sold at Tk 100 a kilogram, slightly down from last week鈥檚 Tk 120-140 a kilogram.
Radish was sold for Tk 40-60 a kilogram, small-sized cauliflowers for Tk 60 apiece, and cabbage for Tk 40 apiece on Friday, mostly remaining unchanged from previous rates.
The price of green chillies remained unchanged at Tk 120 a kilogram on the wholesale market.
On Friday, spiny gourds were sold for Tk 100 a kilogram, pointed gourds and okra at Tk 60-70 a kilogram, yardlong beans at Tk 80 a kilogram and bitter gourd at Tk 100 a kilogram; mostly remaining the same or were slightly lower than last week.聽
Aubergines were sold at Tk 80-120 a kilogram, cucumbers at Tk 80 and tomatoes at Tk 140 a kilogram on the day.
Red chillies were selling at Tk 350-500 a kilogram, depending on variety.
The price of papaya was Tk 30 a kilogram, that of taro runner Tk 50-60, taro stem Tk 60 a kilogram and carrot Tk 80 a kilogram.
Bottle gourds were sold for Tk 50-70 apiece, based on the variant.
As the season is almost at its end, snake gourd, sponge gourd and ridge gourd were selling slightly higher at Tk 100 a kilogram on Friday.
A local garlic variant was sold for Tk 120 per kilogram, while its imported variant was sold for Tk 200 per kilogram. Meanwhile, ginger was sold at Tk 130 a kilogram on Friday.
Traders said that vegetable prices remained high because production was hampered by heavy rain until October.聽
鈥楾he farmers did their best to produce the vegetables. We hope the supply of vegetables on the market will increase and prices will likely fall further throughout the season as winter approaches,鈥� said Md Imran Master, president of Bangladesh Kachamal Arat Malik Samity.
Although the 22-day hilsa fishing ban ended at midnight on October 26, the price of the national delicacy still remained out of reach for consumers, selling at about Tk 800-2,000 a kilogram, depending on size.
The prices of fish have remained high over the past few weeks, with Ruhi selling at Tk 300-450 a kilogram, based on size, Katla at Tk 350-450 a kilogram, Shing at Tk 550 a kilogram, Pangash at Tk 180-220 and Tilapia at Tk 150-200 a kilogram.
The price of broiler chicken remained stable at Tk 160-170 a kilogram, while eggs were sold at Tk 120 per dozen for the white variant and Tk 130 for the brown variant.
Sonali chicken was sold at Tk 250-280 a kilogram and the domestic variant at Tk 550-600 a kilogram.
Packaged atta was selling at Tk 62-65 a kilogram, and unpackaged atta at Tk 45-50 a kilogram. Meanwhile, packaged maida sold for Tk 75 a kilogram and its unpackaged variant for Tk 65 a kilogram.
On Friday, the price of Miniket rice ranged from Tk 70 to Tk聽80 a kilogram, down slightly, while Paijam or Athash was sold at Tk 60-70 a kilogram聽and the coarse variant at Tk 55-60 a聽kilogram.
Packaged soya bean oil was sold at Tk 190 a litre and a five-litre bottle cost Tk 922. In contrast, the prices of unpackaged soya bean oil and palm oil were Tk 176 and Tk 166 a litre respectively.
The price of beef remained at Tk 750-800 a kilogram and mutton at Tk聽1,100-1,200 a kilogram on Friday.
The prices of red lentils remained static at Tk 150-155 a kilogram for the fine variant, Tk 125-130 for the medium variant and Tk 100-110 for the coarse variant.
