Harvest of aman has started in full swing across the country but the prices of rice remained high in the city’s retail and wholesale markets. Traders said that it will take time to reduce the prices of rice as new rice is yet to appear in the market. Consumers, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the high price of rice and said traders always gain benefits depriving the customers.
Coarse varieties of rice were retailing at Tk 35-Tk 37 a kg on Friday.
The fine variety of miniket rice was selling at Tk 48-Tk 50 a kg while the coarse varieties were retailing at Tk 44-Tk 46 a kg.
The fine varieties of BR-28 rice were selling at Tk 42-Tk 46 a kg and the coarse variety of parija was selling at Tk 38-Tk 41 a kg.
The fine variety of najirshail was selling at Tk 55-Tk 57 a kg and the coarse varieties were retailing at Tk 44-Tk 48 a kg.
Abul Hossain, a rickshaw puller, told New Age that the price of coarse varieties of rice at Tk 35 was illogical as the harvesting season of aman paddy is now going on.
‘Poor people do not get the benefit of a good harvest as the market remains under the control of syndicates,’ he said.
M Shahjahan, owner of Mukta Rice Agency at Karwan Bazar, said that the new rice is yet to entered the market.
Consumers will have to wait a few days for decreasing prices of rice, he said.
The prices of winter vegetables decreased by Tk 5-Tk 10 a kg over the week.
Cauliflower and cabbage weighing around 1 kg to 1.5 kg was retailing at Tk 15 a piece and Tk 10 a piece respectively on Friday.
Radish, bean and spinach were selling at Tk 20 a kg, Tk 40 a kg and Tk 20 a kg respectively on the day.
Aubergine was selling at Tk 30-Tk 40 a kg, tomato (imported) at Tk 70 a kg, tomato (local) Tk 90 a kg, cucumber at Tk 30 a kg, papaya at Tk 20 a kg, okra at Tk 60 a kg and bitter gourd at Tk 40 a kg on the day.
The price of green chilli decreased by Tk 20 a kg and the item was selling at Tk 60 a kg over the week.
Refiners have reduced the price of bottled soya bean oil by Tk 10 a litre but most of the consumers were yet to get the benefit.
Bottled soya bean oil (five litres) was selling at Tk 510 to Tk 550 in the city’s kitchen markets.
The prices of unpacked soya bean and palm oil remained unchanged. Unpacked soya bean oil was selling at Tk 88 a litre while palm oil was retailing at Tk 68 a litre and the super palm oil was selling at Tk 74 a litre on the day.
The price of egg remained high and the item was selling at Tk 30 a hali (four pieces) in the city on Friday.
The prices of fish remained unchanged.Rohita was selling at Tk 250-Tk 350 a kg, Katla at Tk 230-Tk 300 a kg, Pangas at Tk 120-Tk 180 a kg and Tilapia at Tk 110-Tk 150 a kg, depending on their size and quality.
Ginger price remained unchanged and the commodity was retailing at Tk 160-Tk 280 a kg.
Potato price remained stable and the item was selling at Tk 24-Tk 25 a kg over the week while the newly harvested potato was being sold at Tk 60-Tk 40 a kg on Friday.
Sugar price remained unchanged and it was selling at Tk 45-Tk 47 a kg on Friday.
The price of beef remained high and the item was selling at Tk 300 a kg while mutton was selling at Tk 460-Tk 480 a kg over the week.
The price of broiler chicken remained unchanged and the item was selling at Tk 115-Tk 120 a kg on the day.
The price of red lentil imported from Turkey and Canada was selling at Tk 90 a kg on Friday.
The fine variety of red lentil was selling at Tk 120 a kg on Friday while its local variety was selling at Tk 115 a kg.
Garlic price remained high and the imported item was selling at Tk 90-Tk 100 a kg while the local item was selling at Tk 100 a kg on Friday.
The price of onion remained unchanged and the item was selling at Tk 40-Tk 45 a kg while the imported one was retailing at Tk 38-Tk 40 a kg on the day.
-With New Age input
