Onion prices continue to rise in the capital's kitchen markets amid alleged hoarding by traders and farmers.
The sudden price rise of the key staple ingredient for many Bangladeshi dishes is causing concern for the consumers.
Onion prices remained relatively stable during the month of Ramadan and spiked soon after Pahela Baishakh, rising by Tk15-20 per kilogram (kg) despite the ongoing peak harvest season.
While visiting different kitchen markets in Dhaka on Friday this correspondent found that home grown onions are selling at Tk60 per kg whereas it was selling Tk 45 to Tk 50 (per kg) after Eid.
Belal Hossain, a retailer at Rampura kitchen market, said the price of onions has been increasing in the wholesale market almost every day since Eid, reaching Tk 54 to Tk 58 per kg. So, we have no another choice but to pass the rising costs to the consumers, leading to sudden rise in the retail onion prices.
He also alleged that wholesalers have been hoarding onions to create an artificial crisis of the produce. "They are raising onion prices excusing supply crunch."
Rejecting the allegation, wholesalers argue that many growers suffered losses this year for their early-season harvest - known as "murikata" onions. As farmers did not get fair prices of the produce, now they are hoarding onions in hopes of better returns later. This has created a supply shortage of the kitchen staple.
Meanwhile, the price of bottled soybean oil has increased by Tk 14 per litre and the price of palm oil by Tk 12 since last Tuesday. One has to spend Tk 189 to buy per litre bottled soybean oil, which was Tk 175 earlier. The new price of a five-litre bottle of soybean oil has been set at Tk 922, which was Tk 852.
Besides, prices of all kinds of vegetables have also increased in the markets following the ongoing market trend of onion.
Kankrol (spine gourd) turns most expensive vegetable now which was selling at Tk 140 per kg in the market. In addition, round brinjal has also crossed the century mark per kg, while long brinjal is priced at Tk 80 per kg.
Beans are being sold at Tk 70 per kg, sweet pumpkin at Tk 30, radish at Tk 60, cucumber at Tk 80, bitter gourd at Tk 60 and tomatoes at Tk 40 per kg.
Besides, per kg sponge gourd and ridge gourd are being sold at Tk 100, pointed gourd Tk 70, taro stem (kachur lati) is Tk 80, green beans (barbati) Tk 80, snake gourd (chichinga) Tk 70, green chilli Tk 100, green papaya Tk 60, potato Tk 35 per, carrot Tk 60, wax gourd (jali kumra) at Tk 50 per piece, green banana at Tk 40 per four, lemon at Tk 20 to Tk 30 per four, depending on quality and size,
The price of beef has decreased slightly in the markets and was selling at Tk 750 per kg. Before Eid, per kg beef was sold at Tk 780 to Tk 800. Besides, chicken prices remained stable in the market and per kg broiler chicken was selling at Tk 210 to Tk 230 while sonali chicken at Tk 300 to Tk 330.
Egg prices also remained static for several weeks. Farm eggs were selling at a price of Tk 120 to Tk 130 per dozen.
Sajjadul Islam, who works at a private farm, was surprised by the vegetable price in the capital's at Shantinagar kitchen market.
"I saw the vegetable prices are very high in the market. The common man has no ability to buy vegetables such high prices. The government should strengthen market monitoring to keep prices of vegetables and others products stable and reasonable."
