Supply of essentials surpasses buyers on day 1 of lockdown

Fewer crowds were seen in the markets in the capital city on the first day of the weeklong lockdown than the other days, despite there being sufficient supplies of daily essentials.

The market remains almost stable although the price of one or two daily essentials has increased.  However, traders are reluctant to call this an extra price.

Talking to traders, compared to Sunday, the price of vegetables has increased by Tk5 to 10 per kg. However, prices of other essentials have remained stable.

Such a picture was found during the visits to different kitchen markets in Karwan Bazar, Tejturi Bazar, Kanthal Bagan, Hatirpool, Magbazar, Segunbagicha, Mohammadpur, Badda and Mirpur on Monday.

Abdur Rauf, a vegetable trader at Kachukhet Bazar in Mirpur, said the price of two or one goods has gone up. For example, the price of green chili is a little higher today.

Moreover, the prices of most products are the same as on other days of the week. Tk2-5 has increased. The price of any daily essential has not increased by a huge margin, he added.

However, there is no shortage of vegetables in the market due to the lockdown. Everything has ample amounts in the markets. People concerned said the buyers are seen less on this day.

Somewhere in the retail markets, ladies finger, brinjal, patal, barbati were sold at Tk50 to 70 per kg, which was between Tk50 to 60 on Sunday. Potatoes, papayas and tomatoes are also on the list of price hikes.

The potatoes that were sold for Tk20 on Sunday were at Tk25 today (Monday). The price of Papaya has increased to 30 from Tk25 and tomatoes to 30 from Tk20. The price of eggplant has also increased by Tk10 per kg.

Wholesalers at Kawran Bazar said the price of one or two vegetables has increased due to delay in the arrival of vegetables due to extra traffic on the highways on Sunday ahead of the lockdown. The situation will return to normal.

Altaf Uddin, a vegetable wholesaler in Karwan Bazar, said there is no shortage of supplies. However, the number of buyers has decreased, there is no sale.

If there is no transportation problem, the price of vegetables will not go up; rather, it could be reduced, he added.

Meanwhile, the prices of rice, pulses, ginger and garlic have not increased in the markets but onions have gone up. Ginger and garlic were sold for Tk120 to 140 per kg. Onions are now sold at Tk40 per kg, up from Tk35.

However, there is no impact on the meat market. Beef was sold for Tk600 per kg at Karwan Bazar. Chicken (broiler) was sold at Tk160 per kg, Pakistani cock at Tk320 per kg, white cock at Tk300, local chicken at Tk600, red layer at Tk230 and white layer at Tk200.

In Karwan Bazar, the prices of rice and other daily essentials are stable. Miniket rice was sold at Tk80-82, BR-28 at Tk50-52, Nazir Shahi at Tk60-62 and Chinigura at Tk95 per kg

Nazrul Islam, seller of Anwara Traders, said there is sufficient supply of goods in the market. But there is no buyer. So there is no option for price hike.

"We are now worried about how to run the family after paying rent of the shop."

The people concerned feared that the market may become unstable following such an announcement on last 3 April - the government is going to give a one-week lockdown from 5 April (Monday).