Except for papaya and gourd, the prices of all kinds of vegetables have increased at an unusual rate in Chittagong. No vegetable is available below 100 rupees. The price of green chillies is fluctuating up to 400 rupees. Traders say that there are no vegetables in proportion to the demand in the market. The few vegetables that are coming, the quality is not good. Again after the flood, many vegetable fields were destroyed. As a result, the price has doubled. In such a situation, the buyers are talking about increasing the surveillance of the government’s supervisory agency in the market.
Onion, ginger, garlic, chicken and fish are being sold at higher prices in the market. However, the price of eggs has started to decrease due to the news of import. Eggs per dozen are now selling at Tk 165-170 from Tk 175-180 in the port city. This information was known after visiting various markets including Bahaddarhat, Chowkbazar, Karnaphuli Complex, Kazi Deuri and Chowkbazar.
Most of the vegetables were sold at Tk 100 to Tk 140 per kg in the market yesterday. These include gourds, bitter gourds, eggplants, shrimps and bitter gourds. Only four vegetables are available under 100 rupees. These are – papaya, pumpkin, gourd, patol and gourd. Papaya is being sold at Tk 40 to Tk 50 per kg. 60-80 taka per kg of pumpkin, gourd, patol and rinds. Tomato 220-240, beans 180-200, carrot 160, green pepper 380-400 and coriander leaves were sold at Tk 400-500 per kg.
Buyers say they are enjoying the upswing in the vegetable market. Government intervention is needed to increase supply of vegetables by increasing market surveillance soon.
The buyer named Sahab Uddin said that there is no vegetable under 100 taka. I have been buying gourd and papaya for the past few days. If this situation continues in the market, the suffering of common people will increase.
While the prices of onion and ginger-garlic have decreased in wholesale, these three products are being sold at higher prices in retail. Among them, onion 100-120, garlic 260 and ginger 350-380 per kg were sold in the port city. All types of chickens are still being sold at higher prices in the market. Desi 520, golden 340 and broiler chickens were sold at Tk 190-195 per kg. Apart from this, beef is being sold at Tk 780 to Tk 950 per kg. There is no relief in the fish market. Hilsa is being sold at the rate of Tk 900 to Tk 2,000 per kg depending on the size. Pangash was sold at Tk 180 to Tk 220, Rui Tk 300 to Tk 450 depending on the size, Rupchanda Tk 550 to Tk 700 depending on the variety and size, Poa fish Tk 250 to Tk 400 and Pabda Tk 400 per kg.
Vice President of Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) SM Najer Hossain said that traders are increasing the prices of daily necessities including vegetables by syndicating on the pretext of flood. In this situation, the government’s surveillance of the market needs to be increased.
