# Hilsa price rises by Tk 200 per kg on news of export to India
# An egg is being sold at Tk 14 in retail, Hali at Tk 55
# Broiler and golden chicken are being sold at Tk 10 per kg
# Vegetable market rises due to rain and floods
# Potato, onion import duty reduced but prices not fall
# No good news of reducing prices of other essentials
Despite the prices of essential commodities in the country are always upward, sellers added new reason one after another to legalize this trend. This time, sellers said the kitchen market is high due to incessant rain and recent floods.
Egg prices are volatile in the market for last few months. Lower and lower middle class people are finding it difficult to buy eggs for two-three weeks. In retail, chicken eggs are being sold at Tk 14 and hali at Tk 55.
However, an egg was sold at Tk 15 in the neighbourhood shop. As such, the price of Hali and Dozen stands even higher. The dozen also raised to Tk 170. Retailers and wholesalers said prices are not coming down but are becoming more volatile.
After visiting some major important kitchen markets of the capital, it was found that the prices of vegetables and chicken along with eggs have increased compared to before. There is no good news about the reduction in the prices of other essential commodities like onions and potatoes.
Broiler and sonali chicken prices have increased in the market. A week ago broiler chicken was priced at Tk 170 to Tk 180 per kg, which is now seen selling at Tk 190 to Tk 200 per kg. That is, Tk 20 per kg has increased in a week. The price of sonali chicken also increased by Tk 10 and being sold at Tk 280 which was Tk 260 to 270 last week.
On the other hand, the prices of potatoes and onions have been rising in the market for several months. At present potato is being sold at Tk 60 per kg and local onion at Tk 110 to Tk 120.
Meanwhile, a month ago, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) reduced import duty to reduce the price of potatoes and onions. The existing 25 percent import duty on potato imports has been reduced to 15 percent. Apart from this, the regulatory duty of 3 percent on potato import and 5 percent on onion import has been completely withdrawn, but it had no effect.
In the meantime, the market has seen that the price of several vegetables has increased by Tk 10 to Tk 20 per kg compared to the previous week. Vendors said that the supply of vegetables has decreased due to continuous rains for several days. As a result, prices have increased.
Except papaya, no vegetable is available in the market below Tk 60. Even for Tk 60 to 70 only patol is available. Besides, dhundal, shrimp, chichinga, kachurmukhi are being sold at the rate of Tk 70 to 80 per kg. Barbati, kakrol, bitter gourd, brinjal were seen to be sold at Tk 100 to Tk 120.
Apart from this, the price of green chilli is high in the market. It is being sold at Tk 220 to 280 per kg. Apart from this, early winter vegetable beans are sold in the market at Tk 220 to Tk 280 and small cauliflower at Tk 60 to Tk 80.
On the news of export to India, the price of hilsa rose by Tk 200 per kg in Dhaka market. The price of hilsa was high since the beginning of this season. In the meantime, the national fish Hilsa has gone beyond the reach of the middle class and the lower class due to the new price increase. The price of each hilsa of 1 kg size in Dhaka market is Tk 1600 to 1700 which two days ago was Tk 1400 to 1500. Besides, very small size hilsa (200-250 grams each) was sold at Tk 500 per kg, but now it is not available below Tk 700.
Meanwhile, fish like rui, telapia, pangas have been sold at the previous price. Rui is sold at Tk 300 to Tk 360, telapia at Tk 200 to Tk 220 and pangas at Tk 180 to Tk 200 per kg. However, the price of hilsa (one kg size) increased from Tk 150 to Tk 200 per kg and was sold at Tk 1,600 to Tk 1,700.
Rahim Khan, private bank employee said that the prices of goods keep increasing throughout the year due to various reasons. Sometimes rain, sometimes strike-blockade, sometimes on the pretext of Russia-Ukraine war. Everyone now understands that these are just excuses.
He said, earlier we had to think about buying beef. Now I have to think about buying eggs or vegetables. This is the fate of the poor and the middle class. There is no use in talking about these things.
ZH
