Vegetables prices shoot up

• Due to the lockdown, transportation costs have gone up and vegetables have to be sold at higher prices

• People are in dire stress due to instability in the prices of essential commodities

• The price of 5 liter bottled soybean oil has gone up by Tk 30

As the number of unemployment is rising due to Covid-19, the poor are getting poorer and the incomes of low earners are decreasing. In this situation, people are in dire stress due to instability in the prices of essential commodities.

In a week's time, the prices of various daily commodities including rice, pulses, oil and sugar have gone up in the capital market. No vegetables are available below 50 taka. However, the prices of beef and mutton remain unchanged. The price of chicken, however, has decreased.

In a visit to Shyambazar, Karwan Bazar, Palashi, New Market, Jatrabari, Jurain Bazar of the capital, it was seen that miniket rice was being sold at Tk 62 per kg. A week ago, the price of same category rice was 60 taka per kg. The price of athash rice has increased by Tk 2 per kg in a week, now its price Tk 55 a kg. The price of paijam rice has gone up by Tk 5 per kg. Paijam rice was sold at Tk 55 per kg in the capital on Thursday. Najirshail has increased by Tk 2 per kg. The rice was sold at Tk 65 last week. Basmati rice was sold at Tk 70 per kg and chinigura rice was sold at Tk 90 per kg. Kheshari was sold at Tk 70 per kg, mugdal at Tk 140 and besan at Tk 60 per kg. On Thursday, white sugar was sold at Tk 68 per kg in the capital market. The price of white sugar increased by Tk 2 during the week, but the price of red sugar has decreased. Even at the beginning of Ramadan, the price of red sugar was 85 taka per kg. But on Thursday, red sugar was sold at 70-75 taka. However, the price of packaged white sugar was 75-80 taka per kg.

After surveying the veggie market, it has been seen that no vegetable is being sold below 50 taka. Vendors say there is no shortage of vegetable production and supply. However, due to the lockdown, transportation costs have gone up and vegetables have to be sold at higher prices. In this case, even if the farmers sell vegetables at a lower price, the middlemen are benefiting, and the buyers are facing trouble. Among the seasonal vegetables, black eggplant, radish, potato, chichinga, dhundhal, cucumber, raw mangos are being sold at Tk 50-60 per kg. However, tomatoes and pointed gourd have been seen to be sold at Tk 40. Four lemons are being sold at 30-40 taka. Spinach was 30 taka per kg. Red spinach has been sold at Taka 15 per bale. However, potatoes were at a reasonable price. Potatoes have been sold at Tk 18-20 per kg. The farm chicken eggs were Tk 32 per four pieces and duck eggs were Tk 40.

The price of onion has increased by Tk 3 per kg in a week. Thursday, onion was sold at 35-40 tk per kg. However, the price of garlic has come down by Tk 10 in a week. Domestic garlic was sold at Tk 70 per kg and Indian garlic at Tk 110 per kg. Domestic ginger was sold at Tk 100 per kg and Indian ginger at Tk140 per kg. The price of super soybean oil has increased by Tk 5 per kg and being sold at Tk 130 per kg. The price of 5 liter bottled soybean oil has gone up by Tk 30 and being sold at Tk 560.