DUMURIA, KHULNA, Feb 12: With Ramadan approaching, essential commodity prices in Dumuria's markets have shown some relief. Vegetable and meat prices have dropped slightly, while fish remains steady. However, demand-driven items such as cucumber and aromatic rice have seen a rise.
On Tuesday, visits to several local markets revealed the trend. Bitter gourd was selling at Tk 60 per kg, cauliflower and cabbage at Tk 20-25 each, and beans at Tk 30-40 depending on variety. Pumpkin, radish, papaya, turnip, and broccoli were available below Tk 30. Potato prices fell further, now Tk 20-25 per kg, down by Tk 5-10. Trader Jalil Sheikh said, "Supply of new potatoes has increased, so prices dropped. But farmers are facing losses again." He added that cucumber prices are unlikely to fall before Ramadan.
Vegetable seller Suman Ahmed explained, "Khulna's winter keeps vegetables fresh without much medicine. In summer, preservation costs rise, pushing prices up. That's why rates are still low." Shopper Asma Akter, however, remarked, "Prices may look low to sellers, but they still feel high to us."
Staple goods showed mixed trends. At Dumuria bazaar, Atash rice was Tk 65 per kg, Miniket Tk 87, Nazirshail Tk 86, Chinigura Tk 135, flour Tk 55, wheat flour Tk 45, soybean oil Tk 198 per liter, mustard oil Tk 220, lentils Tk 165, chickpeas Tk 90, boot dal Tk 110, garlic Tk 160, sugar Tk 100, salt Tk 40, dried chili Tk 280, turmeric Tk 300, and ginger Tk 150. Shopkeeper Abdul Mannan noted soya bean oil may rise by Tk 2-4 soon. Spice prices remained stable: cumin Tk 640, cinnamon Tk 540, cardamom Tk 5,200, and cloves Tk 1,400 per kg.
The notable increase was in aromatic rice. Packaged varieties rose to Tk 175 per kg from Tk 160 last week. Traders said suppliers raised prices ahead of Ramadan and Eid, anticipating higher demand.
Overall, while vegetables and meat offer some relief, selective items linked to Ramadan consumption are already climbing. Consumers remain cautious, balancing short-term price drops with expected seasonal hikes.
