Khulna consumers hit by rising rice and edible oil prices

Like elsewhere in the country, consumers in Khulna are struggling with rising rice and edible oil prices.

However, prices of all varieties of vegetables remain under buying capacity of the consumers.

Buyers alleged that market monitoring by mobile courts to keep prices of commodities under control and hanging the price lists of essentials don't yield benefits for them.

The prices of commodities are increasing by leaps and bounds regularly as each kilogram of rice went up by Tk six to seven on an average and per litre of soybean oil also marked an increase by Tk three to five, crushing daily life of the low-income and poor people. 

The rice prices on all varieties hiked over the past three months, said consumers, blaming the middlemen for this.

Visiting several markets in Khulna city on Thursday, UNB's Khulna correspondent found that per kilogram of potato cost Tk 20, local variety of onion prices Tk 40 to 45, garlic at Tk 235 to 240, winter bean at Tk 30, green chili Tk 60, eggplant at Tk 30, sweet pumpkin at Tk 20, and papaya Tk 20.

Besides, a bunch of spinach was charged Tk 15 to 20.

Per kilogram of coarse rice (Swarna) was sold at Tk 54, Atash Balam at Tk 65, Miniket at Tk 75, Miniket (substandard) at Tk 65, Basmati at Tk 75 to 76 and Kalojira at Tk 100.

Edible oil ranks at the top on the list of commodities at grocery shops, showing five litre of Fresh, Teer and Bashundara edible oil at Tk 875. Consumers have to count Tk 1758 per litre of oil.

On the other hand, surprisingly per litre of loose (open) soybean oil was being sold at Tk 195.

One Md Abu Jafar Sheikh who came to KCC SuperMarket to buy commodities, told this correspondent that the businesspeople have been increasing prices of commodities at their own will.

The price hikes of rice and edible oil can't be brought under control despite drives, he said.

Echoing buyer Jafar, most consumers urged the government to rein in the commodity market.