Most vegetables cross Tk100 mark as rain pushes up prices; green chillies hit Tk240/kg
Consumers say vegetable prices have risen further after increasing steadily over the past several days.
Continuous rainfall in recent days has driven up prices of vegetables, fish, poultry and onions in Dhaka's kitchen markets, with most vegetables now selling for more than Tk100 per kilogram and green chillies reaching Tk240 per kg.
A visit to several markets in the capital today (24 July) and conversations with buyers and traders revealed that only green papaya remains below Tk50 per kg, while a few vegetables are selling for around Tk80. Most other vegetables are priced between Tk100 and Tk160 per kg.
Taro stolons (kochu loti) are selling at Tk100 per kg, yardlong beans (borboti) at Tk120, bottle gourd at Tk100 each, carrots at Tk130, cucumbers at Tk140-160, bitter gourd at Tk120-140, long brinjal at Tk120, round brinjal at Tk160, and teasel gourd at Tk120 per kg and tomatoes at Tk160 per kg.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Government employee Sharif Bhuiyan, shopping at New Market, said vegetable prices had been rising for several days but had increased further yesterday.
"There is hardly any vegetable selling for less than Tk100 per kg. Green chillies cost me Tk240 a kg, and in some places they are selling for Tk300. How can ordinary people afford vegetables at these prices?" he said, alleging a lack of market monitoring.
Another shopper, Monirul, said even vegetables, usually considered the cheapest food option, had become too pricey. "If vegetables cost this much, how can we afford fish, meat or chicken?" he asked.
Nazim Uddin, a vegetable trader at New Market, attributed the price hike to reduced supplies caused by heavy rain. He said flooding and waterlogging had damaged crops in many areas, while poor weather had disrupted transportation of vegetables to Dhaka.
Eggs and chicken become costlier
Farm eggs are now selling at Tk140 per dozen, up from Tk135 a few days ago and Tk120 around two weeks earlier.
Broiler chicken prices have increased by Tk20 per kg to Tk200-220, while Sonali chicken is selling at Tk350-380 per kg.
Fish prices also rise
Fish prices have also increased due to supply disruptions caused by heavy rainfall and flash floods in different parts of the country.
Rui weighing 2-2.5 kg, which sold for Tk350-380 per kg until recently, is now priced at Tk400-450 per kg. Prices of tilapia and pangas have risen by Tk20-30 per kg to Tk240-260 and Tk220-250, respectively.
Farmed shrimp is selling at Tk900-1,200 per kg, about Tk100 higher than last week, while pabda is priced at Tk400-450 per kg. Limited supplies have pushed the price of one-kilogram hilsa to Tk1,600-1,800.
Fish trader Md Abdul Halim said wholesale prices had increased because fewer fish were arriving from major trading hubs due to rain and flooding, forcing retailers to charge more.
Onion prices jump
Onion prices have also climbed sharply. Good-quality onions, which sold for Tk30-40 per kg only a few days ago, are now retailing at around Tk60 per kg, while medium-quality onions are selling for about Tk50 per kg. Traders attributed the increase to rain-related supply disruptions.
