The prices of rice, broiler and egg increased on the retail market in the capital over the week ending Friday due to supply shortage as political violence disrupted goods transport across the country. Traders said that the price of rice increased by Tk 2 a kg on both wholesale and retail markets as transportation had almost paralysed and truckers hiked fare excessively due to frequent blockades.
The price of coarse and fine varieties of BR-28 and miniket rice increased by Tk 2 a kg and was selling at Tk 37 a kg, at Tk 43-Tk 45 a kg and Tk 48-Tk 52 a kg respectively on Friday.
Zakir Hossain, a retailer at Karwan Bazar, told New Age that the mill owners and suppliers were not increasing the price of rice but they were not willing to transport the item for fear of vandalism and arson.
Salim Uddin, a wholesaler at Babubazar, said, ‘The wholesale prices of rice increased a bit as the truck fare increased by five times due to political violence.’
He said there was no shortage of rice in the country but the traders and truckers were not willing to transport the item in fear of vandalism and arson.
The price of broiler increased by Tk 10 a kg and it was selling at Tk 125-130 a kg on Friday as the supply of the item decreased on the market in last couple of days, the traders said.
The price of egg increased by Tk 2 a hali (four pieces) and it was selling at Tk 28 a hali on the day.
The prices of onion decreased by Tk 10 a kg as the supply of newly harvested onion increased on the market.
The local onion was selling at Tk 130 a kg while the newly harvested item was retailing at Tk 100 a kg on Friday.
The price of imported onion also decreased by Tk 10 a kg and was selling at Tk 90-Tk 100 a kg on the day.
The traders said that the prices of the item — both local and imported — would come down if a smooth transportation could be ensured.
The supply of vegetables increased on the market and the prices decreased by Tk 5-Tk 10 a kg on Friday.
Bean was retailing at Tk 30-40 a kilogram, cauliflower at Tk 30 a piece, cabbage at Tk 50 a piece, aubergine at Tk 30-Tk 40 a kg, okra at Tk 40 a kg, bitter gourd at Tk 40 a kg, cucumber at Tk 40 a kg, carrot at 50 a kg, tomato Tk 100 a kg and papaya at Tk 15 a kg on the day.
The price of green chilli decreased by Tk 20 a kg and was selling at Tk 80 a kg on Friday.
The price of potato remained unchanged and it was retailing at Tk 20 a kg. Sugar was selling at Tk 48-Tk 50 a kg.
The price of local red lentil remained unchanged and the item was retailing at Tk 115 a kg on the day.
The price of garlic remained unchanged and it was selling at Tk 90 a kg on Friday while the local one was retailing at Tk 80 a kg.
The prices of ginger increased by Tk 20 a kg due to supply shortage.
The imported garlic was selling at Tk 200 a kg while the local item was retailing at Tk 180 a kg on the day.
The price of bottled soya bean oil (five litres) remained unchanged and it was selling at Tk 570-Tk 585 on the city’s kitchen markets. The unpacked soya bean oil was retailing at Tk 112-115 a kg.
Rohita was selling at Tk 250–Tk 300 a kg on Friday, pangas at Tk 180–Tk 250 a kg and tilapia at Tk 160–Tk 200 a kg, depending on their size and quality.
The prices of beef and mutton remained steady. Beef was selling at Tk 280 a kg and mutton at Tk 450 a kg on Friday.
-With New Age input
