The price of onions and garlic declined last week even while the costs of rice, edible oils, vegetables, and fish went up.

Visits to different kitchen markets in the capital, including Karwan Bazar, Malibagh, and Mirpur-2, revealed that local onions were retailing at Tk 70–90 per kg yesterday. 

At wholesale markets, local onions sold for Tk 55–70 per kg, while the Myanmar variety went for Tk 70–75 per kg, Chinese onions for Tk 50–60 per kg, Pakistani ones for Tk 55–60 per kg, and Egyptian onions for Tk 55–70 per kg.

Onions from Myanmar retailed at Tk 72–75 per kg, while those from China sold for Tk 60–80 per kg, those from Pakistan went for Tk 70–90 per kg, and Egyptian onions fetched Tk 70–80 per kg. A week earlier, the same varieties had sold in the range of Tk 90–120 per kg.

But the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) revealed that onion prices are still 219% higher than at this time last year.

Also in decline is the price of garlic—it dropped by Tk 70–100 per kg in the last two days owing to increased supply of the local variety in the markets. 

Imported garlic was selling for Tk 170–180 per kg yesterday, down from the earlier range of Tk 170–220, while local varieties were going for Tk 80–100 per kg. 

However, edible cooking oils, vegetables, fish, and some varieties of rice became costlier this week.

The price of loose soybean oil, which had shown a slight decline in February, has increased again. According to TCB data, the price increased to Tk 90 per litre from last week’s price of Tk 88 per litre. There has also been a notable increase in fish prices, which traders blamed on a decline in supply resulting from the fishing ban imposed by the government.

The Department of Fisheries (DoF) imposed a two-month ban on fishing in select areas of five major sanctuaries across six southern districts from March 1. The ban aims to protect hilsa and other fish during their breeding season in order to increase production, DoF officials said.

The ban, which is scheduled to end on April 30, covers 392 kilometres of the Ilisha, Meghna, Tentulia, Bishkhali, and Padma rivers in the Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Shariatpur, Chandpur, and Lakshmipur districts.

Despite the ban, hilsa was available in the markets, though in very small volumes. The fish was selling at Tk 650–900 per kg depending on the size. Shrimp of different sizes and quality were retailing at Tk 500–1,000 per kg and pabda at Tk 500–850 yesterday.

Also on the rise is the cost of rice. Prices have increased by at least Tk 2–3 per kg, depending on the variety. Rice traders alleged that rice mill owners have increased the prices through syndication despite adequate supply of paddy in the markets.

The retail price of the fine variety of Miniket went up by Tk 2–3 per kg to Tk 55–60, while the coarse variety sold for Tk 50–52 per kg. The Swarna variety was selling for Tk 35–36 per kg and BR28 for Tk 38–40 in kitchen markets yesterday.

While supplies of early summer vegetables have increased, their prices are yet to decline. 

Traders said the prices will fall over the next couple of weeks until the early summer crops hit the market in full swing. Bitter gourd, for example, was quite expensive at Tk 130 per kg.

The price of broiler chicken also increased by Tk 10 per kg over the week. The going rate was Tk 120–130 per kg yesterday. 

Local varieties were selling for Tk 450 per kg. 

Beef was selling for Tk 550–570 per kg yesterday, while mutton retailed at Tk 750–800 per kg. Farm egg prices, however, had dropped to Tk 90–100 per dozen, down from Tk 100–110 a month back.

BK