The holy month of Ramadan is still more than a month away. Before that, there is a hint of discomfort in the market of daily necessities. The price of sugar has increased earlier this time amid complaints that the price increases when fasting comes. The price of this product has increased by Tk 10 to Tk 15 per kg within a week.
Meanwhile, in the winter season, the capital’s raw markets have taken on a festive look of vegetables. There is an abundance of winter vegetables in the market, and prices have come down along with it. After a long time, consumers are happy to get relief in the price of vegetables.
Friday (January 2) various markets of the capital were visited, almost all types of winter vegetables including cauliflower, cabbage, beans, carrot, radish, tomato, spinach, red cabbage are readily available. Most of the vegetables are selling between Tk 50 to Tk 60 per kg. Some vegetables are also available at lower prices, which is an added relief for low-income people.
At present, cauliflower is being sold at Tk 30 to Tk 40, cabbage Tk 40 to Tk 45, gourd Tk 40 to Tk 60, beans Tk 40 to Tk 60 per kg, carrot and radish Tk 30 to Tk 40 and spinach and red cabbage at Tk 10 to Tk 15 per kg. Which is much less than last week.
Buyers say that the high prices of vegetables throughout the year put a big strain on their budgets. Due to the arrival of winter, that pressure has decreased to some extent.
Resident of Old Dhaka, housewife Rahima Begum said, earlier, you had to buy a few vegetables for Tk 200-300. Now bags full of vegetables are available for the same money. The family food menu is also diversifying.
Even if the price of vegetables has decreased, the price of fish has not changed much, its price has always remained high. Buyers complain that even if the price falls in the wholesale market, it does not affect the retail market. Coral is being sold at Tk 700 to Tk 900 and Id at Tk 700 to Tk 800 per kg in the market. The price of horn fish has decreased slightly to Tk 300 to Tk 400.
Apart from this, tengra is being sold at Tk 600 to Tk 700, sarpunti at Tk 300 to Tk 450 and pangas and silver carp at Tk 180 to Tk 280.
Large prawns were seen to be sold at Tk 750 to 1200 and small prawns at Tk 1000 to 1200. One kilogram of hilsa is priced at Tk 2,200 to Tk 2,500 and two kg Hilsa is priced at Tk 2,600 to Tk 3,000.
Fish seller Jahangir Alam commented, due to less catch of fish in the river in winter, the price is higher, which has also affected the retail market.