Lemon prices in the capital have soared to unprecedented levels, with consumers facing what many describe as an artificial squeeze ahead of Ramadan.
Within a matter of weeks, the price of a medium-sized lemon has jumped by at least Tk 10 per piece, now retailing at Tk 110-120 in city markets.
Just a fortnight ago, the same quality lemon was selling for Tk 50-60, while a month earlier it could be bought for as little as Tk 30-40. The near fourfold increase in such a short span has left shoppers stunned.
Visits to several markets in Dhaka on Saturday revealed widespread frustration among buyers, who allege that orchard owners and traders are deliberately holding back supply in anticipation of higher Ramadan demand. The resulting shortage, they claim, has created an artificial crisis and fuelled speculative pricing.
"Traders always raise lemon prices before Ramadan," said Hamidur Rahman at Shantibagh Bazar, visibly upset after being quoted Tk 30 for a single lemon of lower quality. "Is this a fair price? There must be stricter monitoring during Ramadan to keep essentials affordable."
Traders, however, reject allegations of hoarding and profiteering. They argue that the spike is primarily seasonal. According to Mannan Mia, a lemon trader at Malibagh Bazar, this is not the peak harvesting period.
"New blossoms are appearing on the trees, and in many cases only small fruits have formed," he said. "That naturally reduces the volume available in wholesale markets."
He added that while certain varieties yield lemons throughout the year, current supplies depend largely on these limited sources. Compounding the situation, transport movement has been partially disrupted for the past two to three days due to election-related restrictions, further tightening supply lines into the capital.
Market analysts note that Ramadan traditionally drives up demand for lemons, a staple ingredient in iftar preparations and beverages. The seasonal dip in output, coupled with short-term logistical bottlenecks and heightened demand expectations, appears to have created a perfect storm in the retail market.
The price surge is not confined to lemons alone. Green chillies - another kitchen essential - have also recorded sharp increases. Last week, chillies were selling at Tk 80-100 per kilogram. By Saturday, prices had climbed to Tk 120-150 per kilogram across several markets.
The rapid escalation in the cost of everyday produce adds to mounting pressure on urban households already grappling with elevated food inflation. Economists warn that without tighter supply chain oversight and improved market monitoring, seasonal fluctuations risk being amplified by opportunistic pricing behaviour.
For now, consumers remain caught between seasonal realities and suspicions of market manipulation - paying significantly more for items that, only weeks ago, were comfortably within reach.
