In Dhaka's Badamtali wholesale market, common maryam dates command Tk 440 per kg, but consumers face steep markups as prices more than double in Karwan Bazar and triple in Rampura Bazar. The situation is even more pronounced in Mahakhali, where date prices quadruple. Similarly, red apples, priced at Tk 180 per kg in Badamtali, fetch Tk 320 in Karwan Bazaar, Tk 290 in Rampura Bazaar, Tk 300 in Mirpur, and Tk 280 in Mohakhali.

This trend extends beyond dates and apples, with fruit prices doubling to quadrupling from wholesale to retail markets.

Watermelons serve as a prime example of this pricing imbalance. According to Nannu Howladar, owner of Jatrabari's Bhai Bhai Banizzyaloy, the cost of transporting a watermelon from wholesale to retail markets is a mere Tk 30. Yet, consumers are forced to pay markups exceeding Tk 70 per piece in retail markets. Retailers justify these markups by citing expenses such as transportation and overhead costs.

Shariful Islam, a retailer in Rampura Bazaar, acknowledged the high prices in the market, attributing them to various expenses including van rent, employee salaries, and contributions. However, consumers lament the inflated prices, which particularly strain the budgets of lower and middle-class individuals.

Badamtali bazar: Red apple 20 kg price 3 thousand 500 to 4 thousand taka. As such, about 180 per kg. The price of 9 kg of Bhutanese oranges is 1 thousand 900 taka. 210 tk per kg. Big size 10 kg China oranges 2,100 taka. The price per kg is Tk 210. Malta 16 kg 3 thousand 200 to 400 taka. 212 tk per kg. The price of desi orange 28 kg is Tk 4800. The price per kg is tk 172. Green apple 18 kg 4 thousand 500 to 5 thousand taka. And the price per kg is about 275 taka. Pears 9 kg 2 thousand taka. Price per kg is 222 tk. The price of 20 kg of green grapes is 4 thousand 500 taka. The price per kg is 225 Tk.

Black grapes 10 kg 3 thousand 400 taka. The price per kg is 340 taka. Guava 40 to 45 taka per kg. Safeda large size 70 taka per kg. Watermelon medium size 100 pieces 25 thousand taka. And the price of each piece is 250 taka. The price of 100 pieces of large size watermelon is 35 thousand taka. As such, the price per piece is around 350 Tk. Nut-bottomed dates can be seen in the market, a bag of dates is 40 kg for 6 thousand taka. And the price per kg is 150 tk.

The price of Maryam dates 5 kg is 2 thousand 200 taka. The price per kg is 440 tk. Date palm 5 kg 2 thousand 500 taka. Price per kg is 500 tk. Masrook 5 kg 2 thousand 500 taka. Price per kg is 500 tk. Chukkari 5 kg 2 thousand 500 taka. Price per kg is 500 tk. Farida 5 kg 2 thousand 500 taka. Price per kg is 500 tk. Medjul 5 kg 7 thousand 500 taka. The price per kg is 1500 taka. Large Maryam 5 kg 4 thousand 600 taka. The price per kg is 920 tk. Masdur 5 kg 4 thousand 200 taka. Price per kg is 840 tk. Kalani 3 kg 2 thousand 700 taka. The price per kg is 900 taka. Azoa 5 kg 5 thousand 300 taka. The price per kg is 1 thousand 60 taka. Mabrum 5 kg 5 thousand taka. The price per kg is 1 thousand taka. Algeria 5 kg 2 thousand 200 taka. The price per kg is 440 taka. Barney dates 10 kg 3 thousand 100 taka. 310 taka per kg. Farida 5 kg 2 thousand 800 taka. 560 taka per kg. Kalmi 5 kg 4 thousand 700 Taka. 940 taka per kg. Jihadi 10 kg 2 thousand 600 taka. 260 taka per kg. Lulu 5 kg 3 thousand 900 taka. 390 taka per kg. Algeria 5 kg 2 thousand 300 taka. 460 taka per kg.

Jatrabari bazar: In the Jatrabari fruit market of the capital, it can be seen that large watermelons weighing 8 to 12 kg are being wholesaled for Tk 300 to Tk 320 a piece. Medium watermelon weighing 5 to 8 kg is being sold at Tk 170 to Tk 180 per piece. In this market, small watermelons weighing 3 to 5 kg are being sold at Tk 50 to Tk 80 per piece. Similar prices were seen at Makkah-Madinah Enterprises and Bhai Bhai Banizzyalai this year. Pineapples were seen to be sold at Tk 20 per piece depending on the size. Guavas were sold at Rizvi fruit store there at Tk 35 to Tk 40 per kg on Tuesday. Apart from this, papaya was seen to be wholesaled at 70 to 120 kg depending on size, 80 to 120 pieces depending on size of bungi and Tk 20 to 80 per piece depending on size of bell. As for retail, common maryam dates are being sold at Tk 1,000 per kg, red apple at Tk 250, malta at Tk 360, green apple at Tk 340, desi orange at Tk 280, pineapple at Tk 360, grapes at Tk 250 and guava at Tk 60 per kg.

Karwan Bazar: Watermelon is being sold at Tk 70 per kg in Karwan Bazar. Ripe papaya is sold by kg. The price per kg is taken from 150 to 200 taka. Bangi of one and a half kg is being sold at 200 taka. Medium sized pineapples brought from Rangamati are being sold at Tk 60 per piece. Each large bale is being sold for Tk 200 to Tk 250. Each dozen of Champa banana is sold at Tk 75, Sabri Tk 120, Bangla Tk 100 and Sagar banana at Tk 90. Large quality plums are available at Tk 160 per kg. Each lemon is sold at 40 taka. Guava is being sold at Tk 120, big dragon at Tk 500, green apple at Tk 300, red (gala) apple at Tk 320. Desi oranges are available in the market for 250 taka. South African oranges are being sold at Tk 280 per kg. Apart from this, malta is being sold at Tk 320, white grape at Tk 380, black grape at Tk 400, pear at Tk 280, safeda at Tk 150. Apart from this, good quality (Kashmiri) pomegranates are being sold at Tk 380. Good quality Medjul dates are being sold at Tk 1,600 (large size). Medjul medium size is Tk 1,400, Amber Tk 1,000, Kalmi Tk 950 and Miriam dates are selling at Tk 1,000.

Mirpur: Mirpur-10 fruit market of the capital and Mirpur eleven and a half fruit market can be seen, 1 kg of Maryam dates are being sold at Tk 1100, which is Tk 440 at badamtali Bazar. That is 660 taka more. Watermelon is being sold at 80 taka per kg in Mirpur. Watermelon was not sold here as a piece. And in Badamtali, a medium size watermelon is being sold for 83 taka. In the fruit market of Mirpur, native papaya is priced at Tk 170 per kg. And it is sold at Jatrabari fruits for 70 to 120 taka. That is 50 to 100 taka more. And in Mirpur, Bangi large size is sold for 300 taka each, while Jatrabari fruits are sold for 80 to 90 taka. 210-220 tk more. Pineapple in Mirpur 70 to 80 taka each. Jatrabari fruits are sold at 8 to 20 taka. That is about 60 to 62 taka more. Big Bale in Mirpur Rs 100 to 150 each. And each is sold at Jatrabari for Tk 20 to Tk 80. That is 70 to 80 taka more. Green apple in Mirpur is Tk 320 per kg. And in Badamatali, the price per kg is 275 Tk. That is 45 taka more. 300 taka per kg of red apple in Mirpur. The price of red apple in Badamtali is 180 Tk. That is 120 tk more. China orange in Mirpur Tk 280 per kg. And 210 taka in Badamatali. That is 70 taka more. 350 taka per kg malta in Mirpur. And 212 taka in Badamatali. That is 138 taka more. Green grapes in Mirpur 360 taka per kg. And 225 taka in Badamatali. That is 135 taka more. Black grapes in Mirpur 400 taka per kg. And 340 taka in Badamatali. That is 110 taka more. 300 per kg of pears in Mirpur. And 222 taka in Badamatali. That is 78 taka more. 400 taka per kg (large) brought to Mirpur. And 250 taka in Badamatali. That is 150 taka more.

Rampura Bazar: Large size watermelons are selling from Tk 110 to Tk 120 per kg. Papaya from Tk 90 to Tk 100 per kg. 160 to 200 taka as bungee piece. Pineapple small 40 taka, big 70 taka piece. 40 to 70 taka depending on the bell type. Sabri banana sells for 60 taka, Champa banana sells for 20 taka. Plum (Apple Cool) 120 Tk. Paper lemons sell for 40 taka, large lemons sell for 60-70 taka. Guava can be seen selling from Tk 60 to Tk 100 per kg. Dragon fruit 360 taka. Mariam dates 1 thousand 600 taka, kajua dates 1 thousand 200 taka, ordinary dates (sold on vans) 250 taka to 300 taka. Raw mango 250 Tk. From green apple 300 taka 320 taka, red apple 290 taka. Desi oranges from Tk 220 to Tk 240. Bhutanese oranges from Tk 320 to Tk 340. Malta 320 taka. White grapes 250-260 taka. Black grapes are being sold at Tk 380-390. Pears from Tk 330 to Tk 340. Safeda 150-160 taka per kg. 360 taka per kg of Anna big size. Strawberries large and packed 2 thousand 200 taka per kg. Desi strawberry 250 taka per kg.

Mofizul Sadiq, a buyer of Rampura Bazaar, told Bangladesh Pratidin, “The hope of the lower middle class or the middle class to break the fast with fruit is fading due to the sellers charging arbitrary prices. Government officials talk about monitoring the market, but practically nothing is happening. As a result, if the products changes hands, the price doubles to three times.”

Many of the above products are being sold in vans on the road adjacent to Rampura Bazar or in local areas. Everything costs a little less in Vans. Sadiq Abdullah, a fruit seller in Van, told Bangladesh Pratidin that he collects the goods from Karwan Bazaar. I sell at low profit. He also said that even if the fruit is sold in the van, the venue has to pay the linemen.

Mohakhali vegetable market: Big size watermelons are being sold in Mohakhali market at Tk 120 to Tk 130 per kg. Papaya from Tk 90 to Tk 120 per kg. Tk 180 to Tk 200 as a bungee piece. Pineapple small 40 taka, big 70 taka. 40 to 70 taka depending on the bell type. Sabri banana sells for Tk 60-65, Champa banana sells for Tk 15-20. Plum (Apple Cool) 110 Tk. Paper lemons sell for 40 taka, large lemons sell for 60-80 taka. Guavas are seen to be sold from Tk 80 to Tk 100. Dragon fruit 350-360 taka. Mariam dates 1 thousand 800 taka, kajua dates 1 thousand 400 taka, ordinary dates (sold on vans) 250 taka to 320 taka. Raw mango 240 Tk. From green apple 290 taka 320 taka, red apple 280 taka. Desi oranges from Tk 210 to Tk 240. Bhutanese oranges from Tk 340 to Tk 360. Malta 320 taka. White grapes 240-260 taka. Black grapes are being sold at Tk 380-390. Pears 330-340 Tk. Safeda 140-160 Tk per kg. 340 rupees per kg of Anna's large size. Strawberries large and packed 2 thousand 200 taka per kg. Desi strawberry 250 taka per kg. Enam Abedin of Mohakhali vegetable market told Bangladesh Pratidin that we are selling the fruit at the fixed price. No extra cost is charged. I am selling for a little profit than wholesale.

(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on March 20 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan) ​