The prices of rice and vegetables increased on the retail market in the capital over the week ending Friday due to high transportation cost.
Retailers said that wholesale prices of rice and vegetables increased on the retail markets as wholesalers increased the prices in the name of high truck fare.Despite arrival of new rice on the market last month, traders are now and then increasing the prices of the item citing various excuses.
The trades increased the prices of rice and vegetables on Thursday and Friday excusing the transportation cost and wholesale price when transportation eased with relaxed political movement by the 18-party alliance after a stretch of indefinite blockade programme.
Earlier the traders had increased the prices of rice in mid-December explaining supply chain disruption due to frequent strikes and blockades.
The price of coarse and fine varieties of rice increased by Tk 2 a kg on retail markets in the city on Thursday.
The prices of fine varieties of BR-28 and miniket rice increased by Tk 2 a kg and were selling at Tk 45-Tk 47 a kg and Tk 48-Tk 54 a kg respectively on Friday while the coarse varieties of rice was selling at Tk 37-Tk 38 a kg.
The price of fine varieties of najishail rice increased by Tk 2 a kilogram and was retailing at Tk 54-Tk 62 a kg over the week.
Zakir Hossain, a retailer at Karwan Bazar, told New Age that the wholesalers increased the prices excusing the hike of truck fare.
Deferring with the claim, Salim Uddin, a wholesaler at Babubazar, said that retailers were responsible for the price hike of rice as wholesale market remained stable for the last three weeks.
‘There is no reason of increasing the prices of rice on the wholesale markets as transportation is gradually becoming normal and supply is increasing,’ he said.
Salim said that the retailers were now manipulating the prices of rice in the city with the increasing turnout of consumers.
Despite huge supply the prices of vegetables increased by Tk 5-Tk 10 a kg on Friday on the city’s kitchen markets.
Bean was retailing at Tk 20-Tk 40 a kg, cauliflower at Tk 30 a piece, cabbage at Tk 25 a piece, aubergine at Tk 30-Tk 50 a kg, okra at Tk 50 a kg, bitter gourd at Tk 40 a kg, cucumber at Tk 40 a kg, carrot at Tk 30 a kg, tomato at Tk 50 a kg and papaya at Tk 15 a kg on the day.
Bangladesh Kanchamal Arrot Malik Samiti president Emran Master told New Age that the excessive truck fare pushed the prices of vegetables up.
‘It is true that the transportation has become a bit normal across the country but at the same time traders are trying to transport more and more goods to capitalise the relaxed situation. In the view of excessive demand truckers are charging extra fare to cover up the damages during strikes and blockades,’ he said.
The prices of vegetables will come down shortly if transportation becomes smooth, Emran hoped.
The price of local onion decreased by Tk 10 a kilogram and it was selling at Tk 50-Tk 55 a kg on Friday. The price of imported onion remained unchanged and it was selling at Tk 40 a kg.
Broiler was selling at Tk 140-Tk 150 a kg on Friday with unchanged price.
The price of egg remained unchanged and it was selling at Tk 26-Tk 28 a hali (four pieces) on Friday.
Green chilli price remained stable and the item was selling at Tk 50-Tk 60 a kg on the day.
Potato was retailing at Tk 18 a kg and 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 Friday.
The price of bottled soyabean oil (five litres) remained unchanged and it was selling at Tk 575-Tk 585 on the city’s kitchen markets. The unpacked soyabean oil was retailing at Tk 112-Tk 115 a kg.
Fish prices remained almost unchanged over the week.
Rohita was selling at Tk 250–Tk 300 a kg on Friday, pangas at Tk 130–Tk 200 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
