The prices of kitchen items have decreased in the city’s kitchen markets in last couple of days as a semblance of normalcy has returned in the transportation across the country amid the blockades enforced by the opposition alliance. The prices of most of the vegetables decreased by Tk 10-Tk 15 a kg on the retail market due to higher supply. Bean was retailing at Tk 20-Tk 30 a kg, cauliflower at Tk 25 a piece, cabbage at Tk 20 a piece, aubergine at Tk 20-Tk 30 a kg, okra at Tk 30 a kg, bitter gourd at Tk 30 a kg, radish at Tk 10-Tk 15 a kg, cucumber at Tk 30 a kg, carrot at Tk 30 a kg, tomato Tk 65 a kg and papaya at Tk 10 a kg on Monday.
The supply of vegetables increased in large quantity in the city’s markets in last three days as the transportation is becoming almost normal, Bangladesh Kanchamal Arrot Malik Samiti president Md Emran Master told New Age on Monday.
He said that despite the blockade, truckers in last few days felt a relaxed situation on the highways as the law enforcement agencies have taken some measures to keep the transportation smooth.
‘If the political parties do not enforce strikes and blockades and traders get assurance of normal transportation, the prices of vegetables will decrease more,’ Emran said.
The prices of onion decreased by Tk 40 a kg in last four days—the imported onion was being sold at Tk 40-Tk 50 a kg while the local item was retailing at Tk 65-Tk 75 a kg on the city’s kitchen markets on Monday.
Narayan Chandra Saha, an importer of onion at Shambazar told New Age that both wholesale and retail markets of onion witnessed a significant decrease in prices as supply of the item increased in last couple of days.
Despite suspension of import of the item through Bhomra and Sonamasjid land port due to blockade, the prices of onion come down to Tk 40-Tk 50 a kg in the retail markets.
In last few days, the supply of onion increased in a large scale through Benapole and Hili land ports as Indian government slashed the export price to $350 a tonne and traders imported huge quantity of onion, said Narayan, also the owner of Nabin Traders.
‘If the transportation become fully smooth across the country the prices of imported onion will come down to Tk 20 a kg in the retail markets,’ he said.
Narayan also said that the wholesale price of onion was Tk 30-Tk 35 a kg in Shambazar on Monday while the local item was being wholesaled at Tk 45-Tk 50 a kg.
-With New Age input
