Vegetable prices remain high in the capital's kitchen markets, with most vegetables selling between Tk 60 to Tk 80 per kg.
Market insiders said winter vegetable season has ended and the summer season has just arrived. This transitional period has led to a supply shortage, causing prices to rise by Tk 10 to Tk 20kg for almost all vegetables.
"Low supply of vegetables keeps price elevated," said a trader at the capital's Mirpur-10 kitchen market, adding, "Higher production costs of summer crops is also reflected in the prices."
However, the prices of broiler chicken, eggs and various types of groceries are the same as before.
Buyers said they got relief in the last few months when vegetable prices remained low due to abundant supply. Now the price of most vegetables in the market is above Tk 60.
On Friday, pointed gourd, okra, ridge gourd, and snake gourd are selling for Tk 60 to Tk 80 per kg. Only papaya is available at a lower price, ranging between Tk 40 to Tk 50 per kg.
Meanwhile, bitter gourd, eggplant, and yardlong beans are being sold for Tk 60 to Tk 100 per kg. Spiny gourd is priced even higher, ranging from Tk 100 to Tk 120. Drumsticks are now selling for Tk 120 to Tk 140 per kg.
Abu Kalam, a vegetable seller at Hatirpul Bazar, said every year prices of summer vegetables have started to rise during the change of season. After a while, the prices keep falling amid increased supply.
Meanwhile, there has also been a lot of excitement in the fish market. The sellers said that the supply of farmed fish is currently a bit low. This has increased the prices of some river fish. In addition, fishing in many rivers has been stopped due to the ban on jatka fishing. This also pushed up hilsa prices.
Hilsa (per four) weighing 700 grams is being sold for Tk 5,000. In addition, sellers are charging Tk 2,000 to Tk 3,000 per piece of hilsa weighing more than one kilogram. Fish weighing 400-500 grams are being sold for Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,500.
On the other hand, farmed shrimp prices have increased in the market and the fish is being sold for Tk 750 to Tk 800 per kg and river shrimp for Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,200.
Besides, the price of koi (climbing fish), shing (catfish) shoal (snakehead murrel), tengra and puti (olive barb) has also increased.
Farmed rui (rohu), tilapia and pangash ( pangasious) have also increased by Tk 20 to Tk 50 per kg compared to the previous week. Farmed rui-katla is being sold for Tk 320 to Tk 360 per kg, tilapia for Tk 220 to Tk 240 and pangash for Tk 200 to Tk 250.
On the other hand, the onion market has been on the rise since Eid. At the retail level, good quality onions are being sold at Tk 55 to Tk 60 per kg. In the neighborhoods, this price is Tk 5 to Tk 10 higher.
There has been no significant change in the price of eggs, which has been on the decline for several weeks. A dozen farm eggs are being sold at Tk 120 to Tk 130.
