‘Fiery’ onions hurt people

The rising price of onions is hitting the middle-class and low-income people hard.  In contrast, the price of chilly registered a sharp fall this week.

Md Aziz, a wholesaler at the Karwanbazar kitchen market, said the onion price might rise further as they had to buy the vegetable at a hiked price on Friday.

The onion price has soared in the local market, as its price has gone up in India and there is a supply shortfall from the neighbouring country.

Some wholesalers, however, admitted that a number of unscrupulous businessmen have jacked up the price of onions to make extra profits. Onions, which sold at Tk 60 a kg last week, are now being sold for Tk 70–80 in retail markets.

The price of tomato, which sold at Tk 110–120 per kg last week, has now shot up to Tk 140–150. The wholesale price of coriander leaves has increased steadily over the past few months; they are now being sold at Tk 160 a kg.

Red spinach is selling at Tk 20 and gourd is being sold at Tk 1,000 a carton.

Besides, the prices of beans and carrots have also increased. Beans are now being sold for Tk 120–130 a kg. They sold at Tk 100–110 a kg last week. The price of carrots has gone up from Tk 80 to Tk 120 in the retail markets. But the price of radish has fallen further to Tk 15 a kg.

However, wholesalers at the Karwanbazar kitchen market claim that the prices of vegetables have generally come down by Tk 5–15 as supplies have picked up over the past three days.

Wholesaler Samar Biswas said he had bought chillies at Tk 80 a kg, but he had to sell them for Tk 70 a kg in retail market on Friday. Likewise, he had bought brinjals at Tk 40 a kg and sold them for Tk 35–38 a kg.  Biswas said he had bought beans at Tk 111 a kg and sold them for Tk 80–85. He sold gourds for Tk 32 a kg after having bought them at Tk 38. He, however, said that the prices of these vegetables went up when they were sold to individual buyers in the retail market.

Meanwhile, the prices of white broiler chicken have decreased slightly compared to last week. White boiler chicken is selling at Tk 120–125 a kg, while it was Tk 135–140 last week. However, the price of layer chicken remained same as before at Tk 160–165 a kg.

The prices of coarse rice and other rice varieties have dropped slightly. Shorna rice sold for Tk 44–48 a kg, ‘Miniket rice’ for Tk 60, Atash for Tk 50, and Nazirishail for Tk 67.

According to traders, the prices of vegetables would drop further if there is no rain and once the winter vegetables start arriving at the markets. They expressed hope that supplies would increase further from next month and the prices of essential commodities would become normal.

 

Fiery onions hurt people

The rising price of onions is hitting the middle-class and low-income people hard. In contrast, the price of chilly registered a sharp fall this week. Md Aziz, a wholesaler at the Karwanbazar kitchen market, said the onion price might rise further as they had to buy the vegetable at a hiked price on Friday. The onion price has soared in the local market, as its price has gone up in India and there is a supply shortfall from the neighbouring country. Some wholesalers, however, admitted that a number of unscrupulous businessmen have jacked up the price of onions to make extra profits. Onions, which sold at Tk 60 a kg last week, are now being sold for Tk 7080 in retail markets. The price of tomato, which sold at Tk 110120 per kg last week, has now shot up to Tk 140150. The wholesale price of coriander leaves has increased steadily over the past few months; they are now being sold at Tk 160 a kg. Red spinach is selling at Tk 20 and gourd is being sold at Tk 1,000 a carton. Besides, the prices of beans and carrots have also increased. Beans are now being sold for Tk 120130 a kg. They sold at Tk 100110 a kg last week. The price of carrots has gone up from Tk 80 to Tk 120 in the retail markets. But the price of radish has fallen further to Tk 15 a kg. However, wholesalers at the Karwanbazar kitchen market claim that the prices of vegetables have generally come down by Tk 515 as supplies have picked up over the past three days. Wholesaler Samar Biswas said he had bought chillies at Tk 80 a kg, but he had to sell them for Tk 70 a kg in retail market on Friday. Likewise, he had bought brinjals at Tk 40 a kg and sold them for Tk 3538 a kg. Biswas said he had bought beans at Tk 111 a kg and sold them for Tk 8085. He sold gourds for Tk 32 a kg after having bought them at Tk 38. He, however, said that the prices of these vegetables went up when they were sold to individual buyers in the retail market. Meanwhile, the prices of white broiler chicken have decreased slightly compared to last week. White boiler chicken is selling at Tk 120125 a kg, while it was Tk 135140 last week. However, the price of layer chicken remained same as before at Tk 160165 a kg. The prices of coarse rice and other rice varieties have dropped slightly. Shorna rice sold for Tk 4448 a kg, Miniket rice for Tk 60, Atash for Tk 50, and Nazirishail for Tk 67. According to traders, the prices of vegetables would drop further if there is no rain and once the winter vegetables start arriving at the markets. They expressed hope that supplies would increase further from next month and the prices of essential commodities would become normal.