Early winter vegetables, falling fish prices offer respite to Dhaka shoppers
However, chicken and egg prices remain high, while most grocery prices have stayed largely unchanged.
Early winter vegetables have started arriving in Dhaka's kitchen markets, bringing some relief to consumers as prices of several vegetables and fish have fallen amid weaker demand during the extended Durga Puja holidays.
However, chicken and egg prices remain high, while most grocery prices have stayed largely unchanged.
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A visit to New Market, Lalbagh, Karwan Bazar and other kitchen markets today (22 October), along with conversations with buyers and sellers, revealed the trend.
Newly harvested beans are selling for Tk140-150 per kg, down Tk30-40 from Tk180 last week. Long eggplant prices have fallen by up to Tk40 to Tk80 per kg from Tk120, while green chilli prices have dropped by Tk20 to Tk130 per kg. White round eggplants are selling for Tk100 per kg.
Tomatoes, however, have become more expensive, with prices rising by Tk20 to Tk150-160 per kg.
Among other vegetables, cauliflower is selling for Tk60 per kg, pointed gourd and okra for Tk60, sponge gourd, teasel gourd and bitter gourd for Tk80, carrots for Tk100, and cucumbers for Tk70-80 per kg.
Papaya remains one of the cheapest vegetables at Tk30 per kg. Bottle gourds are selling for Tk50-60 each, depending on size, while four lemons cost Tk60.
Tarek Hossain, a vegetable seller in Lalbagh, said wholesale supplies of early winter vegetables had started increasing, bringing prices down.
"The wholesale supply of early winter vegetables has started increasing. As a result, prices have fallen somewhat. As supplies increase further, prices will become more affordable for consumers," he said.
Fish prices ease amid weaker demand
Fish prices have also fallen as demand weakened during the Puja holidays. Large ruhi is selling for Tk350-360 per kg, catla for Tk400-420, pangas for Tk200 and pabda for Tk360 per kg. Prices of other locally available small fish have also declined.
Rashedul Islam, who was shopping for fish at New Market, said he had bought a large ruhi for Tk450 per kg four or five days earlier but found it selling for Tk350 yesterday.
"Early winter vegetables and fish seem cheaper," he said.
Fish sellers said many residents had left Dhaka for their village homes during the Puja holidays, reducing customer numbers. Although supplies remained adequate, weaker demand had put downward pressure on prices.
Chicken and egg prices remain high
The relief has yet to extend to the poultry and egg markets. Broiler chicken is selling for Tk180 per kg, Sonali chicken for Tk310-320 and layer chicken for Tk350-360.
Poultry sellers said high wholesale prices and supply costs had left little room to reduce retail rates. Eggs are selling for Tk150 per dozen, with sellers saying prices fluctuate daily and there is no immediate prospect of a decline.
Grocery prices largely unchanged
Meanwhile, most grocery prices have remained largely unchanged from last week.
Packaged aromatic rice used for pilaf is selling for Tk230 per kg, while loose varieties cost Tk160-200, depending on quality. Small-grain lentils are priced at Tk140-150 per kg, coarse lentils at Tk90, large mung beans at Tk140, small mung beans at Tk170, khesari lentils at Tk85, chickpeas at Tk120, gram at Tk105 and black gram at Tk180.
Bottled soybean oil costs Tk205 per litre, while loose soybean oil sells for Tk200 per kg and loose mustard oil for Tk220 per litre. Both packaged and loose ghee cost Tk1,400 per kg, while sugar is selling for Tk110 per kg.
A two-kg packet of flour costs Tk170, while a two-kg packet of whole-wheat flour costs Tk140.
