Rising Vegetable Prices in Dhaka Markets
Vegetable prices are rising sharply in Dhaka’s markets. One kilogram of ripe tomatoes is selling for Tk 280. Most other vegetables are currently priced at around Tk 100 per kilogram. Consumers are expressing surprise at these prices, while vendors attribute the increase to a decrease in supply due to rainfall.
On Thursday (October 10th), after inspecting various markets in Dhaka, it was found that ripe tomatoes are being sold for Tk 260 to Tk 280 per kilogram, depending on quality and market conditions.
Not just ripe tomatoes, but all types of vegetables are being sold at unusually high prices. Winter vegetables like winter gourd (Shim) are selling for Tk 200 to Tk 250 per kilogram. Bitter gourd (Borboti) and pumpkin are also priced at Tk 200 per kilogram.
Retail vendors are selling bottle gourd (Kankorol) for Tk 150 to Tk 170 per kilogram, and pumpkin for Tk 160 to Tk 180 per kilogram. Okra (Ustar) is selling for Tk 120 to Tk 130 per kilogram. However, eggplant (Beoguni) is slightly cheaper, selling for Tk 90 to Tk 110 per kilogram.
Green vegetables like cauliflower (Fulkopi), cabbage (Bhadakopi), snake gourd (Mistikumarada), pumpkin (Kukuru), and bitter gourd (Borboti) offer no relief. A small cauliflower is selling for Tk 70 to Tk 80, and similarly priced is cabbage. Kukuruli (Kanchuruli) is selling for Tk 100 to Tk 120 per kilogram, while Kankorol is selling for Tk 100 to Tk 120. Eggplant (Beoguni) is selling for Tk 90 to Tk 110 per kilogram.
At Moli Bagh, vegetable shopper Ayesha Aktar expressed her disappointment after finding vegetables costing Tk 80 to Tk 100, instead of the prices she had heard. She stated that with her current income, buying vegetables at these prices is nearly impossible. Consequently, she intends to buy two bananas for Tk 20 and continue eating rice and bananas.
She added, “We are very distressed. We have stopped eating fish and meat already. We cannot even afford to cook rice with potatoes. We are struggling to survive, and we don’t know how to get through this. We can only eat rice with these bananas.”
At Rampura market, vegetable shopper Hafizur Rahman expressed his surprise and dismay at the prices, saying, “There is no way to buy vegetables at these prices. All types of vegetables have skyrocketed. It’s impossible for anyone to enter the market with Tk 500 and buy anything. These prices are completely abnormal, and someone needs to take immediate action to reduce them.”
At Kawran Bazar, vegetable shopper Mosharraf Hossain stated that the prices of vegetables are abnormally high, with most vegetables costing over Tk 100 per kilogram. He said, “I bought the same amount of vegetables a few months ago for Tk 500, but now I have to pay Tk 2000 to buy the same quantity. This is a significant increase.”
He continued, “The prices have been high for a long time, but the sudden increase is alarming. These high prices are putting a strain on everyone, and if this continues, ordinary people will be in dire straits. We need immediate action from the authorities to bring down the prices.”
At Kawran Bazar, vegetable vendor Md. Jamal said that the supply of vegetables has decreased due to rainfall, leading to price increases. He doesn’t foresee a quick decrease in prices. The recent rainfall has severely damaged vegetable fields, exacerbating the problem.
Another vendor, মিলন, stated that rainfall always leads to an increase in vegetable prices around this time of year, but this year’s increase is particularly significant. He acknowledged that vendors and customers are both struggling due to the situation.
Al-Amin, a trader at Gulshantoil, mentioned that the prices of all vegetables are abnormally high, which has led to a decrease in his sales. Customers are now buying half a kilogram or a pound instead of a full kilogram. Consequently, his profits have also declined.
“We are both in trouble,” he said. “We need immediate action from the authorities to bring down the prices.”
Barter Bazaar/SM
