Vegetables prices soar, rarely found below Tk 50

In the winter season, the kitchen markets in the country are usually filled up with various vegetables. The prices are also reasonable. However, in this season of winter, it’s very hard to believe the season of vegetables is going on as the prices are high. From the visit in the vegetables market, it has been found that no other items other than radish and turnip are below Tk 50.

According to the visit in the vegetables markets, each piece of cauliflower is priced at Tk 50. The cabbages are also sold in the same price. Tomatoes are sold at Tk 50 to 70 each kg, beans at Tk 60 to 80, eggplants at Tk 70 to Tk 100, potatoes at Tk 50 to 70 per kg. Radish and Turnip are sold at comparatively cheaper price at Tk 40, papaya at Tk 40 to 50. But, gourd is sold at Tk 50 to 80 per piece, pumpkin at Tk 60 to 100 per piece.

The price of vegetables in the market is relatively high. A bunch of red vegetables is being sold for Tk 20, which was available at Tk 10-15 at other times. Apart from this, gourd is being sold at Tk 50, spinach at Tk 20 and stalk vegetables at Tk 20.

Hanifur Rahman, a private employee who came to market in Malibag, said, “The prices of vegetables and fruits increase when the holidays come. Hearing the price of vegetables in the market he loses his temper. Now every winter vegetable is in the market, still the prices are not coming down. I do not understand why this is happening. I have never seen anyone monitoring the markets. The government is helpless to the syndicate.”

Rakib Mia, a seller of Malibagh market, said, “It has been raining for the last two days. As a result, many farmers lost their vegetables. So, the price of all vegetables increased a little. It is not the case that we intentionally sell in excess price. It is forced to raise the price a little.”

There is still volatility in the egg market. A dozen eggs are being sold at Tk 140-145. Meanwhile, in the meat market, it can be seen that the government fixed the price of beef at Tk 650, but no one is paying heed to it. Beef is being sold at a higher price of Tk 750 per kg at present by increasing the price as per their wish. Broiler chicken is being sold at Tk 200 per kg. In addition, layer and golden breed chickens have increased by Tk 10 to Tk 20 per kg and are being sold at Tk 300 to Tk 350 per kg depending on the location. Domestic chicken was seen selling at Tk 500 to Tk 550 per kg and mutton at Tk 1050 to Tk 1100 as it was before. It has been seen in the fish market that pangas is being sold at Tk 200 to Tk 220 per kg. Farmed kai and tilapia are being sold at almost the same price. Depending on the size, the price of Rui and Katla is being sold at Tk 400 to Tk 600 per kg and shrimp is being sold at Tk 600 to Tk 800 per kg. Shoal fish is being sold at Tk 600-650 per kg and shing and byla fish at Tk 500-700 per kg depending on the type. Poa fish is sold at Tk 350 to 400, Pabda fish 400 to 450, Mala 500, Kachki fish 600, Batasi Tengra 900, other types of Tengra fish at Tk 600 to 700, Panch Mishali fish 220, Rupchanda at Tk 1,000 and Baim fish 1,000 to 1, 200 taka per kg are seen to be sold.

(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on February 3 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque Khan)