February 12 was the day of voting for the 13th National Parliament election and referendum and there were restrictions on the movement of vehicles before and after it.
Vehicles carrying essential goods such as daily necessities were outside the restrictions on the election-day and referendum-day on February 12 and, supply of goods in city's kitchen markets was visibly depressed.
Following it, prices of vegetables, chicken; onions remained high even on Friday, the day after the election. Retailers and wholesalers in city kitchen market said due to limited transport movement, transport cost has increased by up to two times, in many cases directly affecting kitchen market products.
Prices of vegetables, chicken, onions remained high even on Friday, the day after the election
A visit to the city's Hazipara, Boubazar, Shantinagar and Segunbagicha markets shows almost every vegetable was sold at a price of Tk 10 to Tk 20 per kg higher than before the election-day.
Meanwhile, due to elections, pressure of people in city markets for buying essentials was low as presence of buyers was low, which is why sales have also decreased. But the situation will not remain so as people have started to return after casting votes in villages in districts.
Meanwhile, due to higher costs, many shopkeepers in city market and vendors in city streets did not open sale counter following shutdown market on Friday. Many shops were outright closed and entry locked.
Enamul Haque, a vendor in Boubazar said as the supply is low, so are the buyers. That is why prices have increased. Prices didn't sharply increase in this period except vegetables.
Yasin in Segunbagicha market said, arrival of vegetables in Karwan Bazar has decreased on Thursday night. That is why he could not buy cucumbers, beans, cauliflower, cabbage and such other items. These were not available in shops windows on Friday.
Traders said brinjal, shrimp, cucumber, lentils, chichinga, cabbage, cauliflower and other vegetables cannot done be stored for more than one to two days. Vegetables start to spoil on more days. Since transportation was almost closed for voting, supply chain to the market was low.
Meanwhile, a visit to few other markets showed cucumbers were sold for Tk 80 to Tk 100 per kg and tomatoes for Tk 50 to Tk 60. The prices of these two vegetables have increased at least by Tk 20 per kg.
In addition, green chillies were sold for Tk 160 to Tk 200 per kg, which over Tk 40 more than before the election.
Meanwhile, beans, radishes, and green papaya were sold for Tk 40 to Tk 60 per kg, depending on the quality, and brinjals sold for Tk 70 to Tk 80. The prices of hybrid bitter gourd and peas also increased from Tk 160 to Tk 200.
On the other hand, the price of onion per kg has increased by Tk 10 ranging from Tk Tk 55 to Tk 60. Similarly, broilers were sold up for Tk 20 per kg, from Tk 200 to Tk 210. Sonali chicken sold for Tk 320 to Tk 340 per kg.
However, there was not much change in the prices of groceries like oil and sugar. The price of eggs remained stable between Tk 110 to Tk 115 per dozen.
