Prices Rise for Five Essential Items, Consumers Feel the Pinch

Bangla Press Desk:  The prices of five essential commodities - sugar, flour, edible oil, vegetables and meat - have increased in the capital's markets, adding to consumers' woes.

Besides, the supply of bottled edible oil has declined in groceries, while the prices of loose edible oil and sugar have risen sharply.

Visits to several markets in Dhaka on Friday revealed this picture.

Packaged atta (flour) sold at Tk 65-68 per kg, up from Tk 62-65 a week back.

Refined flour prices also increased, with the loose version selling at Tk 68-70 a kg and the packaged one at Tk 75-78 per kg, depending on the brand.

The sugar market was volatile.

Retailers sold sugar at Tk 120-125 per kg, around Tk 10 higher than a week ago, and said packaged sugar prices could also rise soon.

Rahman Ali, a grocer at the Town Hall Market in Mohammadpur, said dealers had increased the price of a 50-kg sack of sugar by Tk 200-250 within a few days.

He said dealers had indicated that the price of packaged sugar could also be raised in the coming days as three major refiners almost stopped supply.

Grocers said edible oil companies had also reduced the supply of bottled oil in preparation for pushing up prices.

As a result, many shops were unable to supply bottled edible oil according to demand.

The price of bottled soybean oil remained unchanged at Tk 200 per litre.

But loose edible oil became pricier, with loose soybean oil selling at Tk 190-195 per litre and loose palm oil at Tk 170-180, a hike of Tk 10 in a week.

Vegetable prices, which had remained static for two weeks, increased again.

The prices of most veggies ranged between Tk 60 and Tk 90 per kg. Pointed gourd, papaya, and okra were comparatively cheaper.

Snake gourd, brinjal, ridge gourd, colocasia stem, and sponge gourd became pricier by Tk 10-15 a kg, selling between Tk 80 and Tk 120 a kg.

Green chilli prices declined, selling at Tk 100-160 per kg in retail markets, depending on quality.

Fardin Pathan, a trader at Adabar Bazar, said supply increased mainly after the government had allowed green chilli imports.

"As a result, prices have fallen considerably," he said.

Onion and potato prices remained static at Tk 55-60 a kg and Tk 25-30 a kg, respectively.

Egg prices remained at the previous high of Tk 150-155 a dozen.

Broiler chicken sold at Tk 190-200 per kg, while Sonali chicken was priced at Tk 330-360 per kg, a hike of Tk 10-20 per kg.

Beef retailed at Tk 780-850 a kg and mutton at Tk 1,300-1,350 a kg, maintaining their previous highs.