Green chilli prices hit Tk300 per kg amid supply crunch
Vendors say the price hike is driven by low supply against consumer demand
Green chilli prices have increased sharply across Dhaka's retail markets, reaching Tk300–320 per kilogramme today (11 July) due to dwindling supply caused by four days of continuous rainfall.
Retailers at Kallyanpur BRTC Market were seen selling 250 grams of green chilli for Tk80 to Tk100. A week ago, the price was around Tk100 per kg.
"Just last week, we bought 5kg of chillies wholesale for Tk200. Today, that cost us Tk800," said vendor Omar Faruk.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"We retail it at Tk320 per kg, but even then, a portion gets spoiled and must be discarded," he explained.
For the past four days, parts of the country, including Dhaka, experienced incessant rains, disrupting vegetable supplies from rural areas. Vendors say the price hike is driven by low supply against consumer demand.
At Karwan Bazar kitchen market, vendor Mohammad Sakib, who only sells green chillies, said, "Supply has dropped due to the rain, but demand remains high. That's why the price is high as well."
Shopper Mominur Rahman, who bought half a kilo of chillies from Sakib's stall for Tk150, said, "I came to the market expecting to spend around Tk100 per kg. Last week I bought green chillies at Tk80. This is beyond our budget."
