Lockdown triggers panic buying for essentials in Dhaka kitchen markets

Consumers said they were purchasing more ahead of lockdown and the month of Ramadan fearing a supply crunch in the market

Dhaka city dwellers were gathering at kitchen markets in a fit of panic buying after the government announced a countrywide lockdown for seven days from April 5-11 to tackle the spread of the second wave of Covid-19. 

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader first disclosed this on Saturday and added that industries will remain open on conditions.

According to the Directorate General of Health Service, the Covid-19 killed 58 more people while 5,683 more were detected with the coronavirus in the country in the past 24 hours ending at Saturday morning. With the new figures, Bangladesh so far counted 9,213 COVID-19 deaths and 6,30,277 cases,

Consumers said they were purchasing more ahead of lockdown and the month of Ramadan fearing a supply crunch in the market.

“As the lockdown is going to begin again due to coronavirus so the prices of essential commodities can go up in the market so I purchased several items today,” Kabir Hossain, a resident of Banasree told UNB.

He said the prices of each kg vegetable increased Tk5-10, coarse rice and edible oil by Tk1-2 in one day.

“Today I bought a five-litre bottled soybean at Tk650 and medium quality variety at Tk58 per kg which prices somewhat go up compared to Friday. Besides, I purchased today patal, ladies finger and aubergine at the price of Tk60 per kg which increased Tk5-10,” he added.

Kabir urged the government agencies to monitor the markets properly so that traders can’t sell products out of the lists provided by the government.

Shopkeepers said the prices of vegetables, rice, and edible oil went up due to increased demand.

Saikot Ali, a shopkeeper of Meradia kitchen market said he received an extra pressure from customers on Saturday after lockdown announcement.

“Today we are selling per kg coarse rice at Tk45-50 and fine item at Tk58-65. Besides, loose soybean at Tk120 and palm oil at Tk115 per kg. The prices somewhat increased due to supply crunch,” he also said.

According to state run organization Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) the latest data, the price of coarse increased 2.20% compared to a week while a five-litre bottled soybean rose 0.79%. 

“The prices of each kg anchor pulses increased 8.43%, flour 4.29%, potato 5.88 percent, garlic 9.09 percent, local ginger 17.65 percent and imported one 10.53 pc compared to a week,” the data also showed.

Meanwhile, the price of each kg broiler chicken came down by Tk10 that was selling at Tk170 in the last week. It was sold for Tk120-130 in the previous month.