Prices of most vegetables and fruits have increased sharply in Lalmonirhat at the very beginning of the month of Ramadan, despite it being the peak season for many produce items.

A visit to different kitchen markets in Lalmonirhat town on Sunday showed that green chilli was selling at Tk 130 to Tk 170 per kilogram, up from Tk 70 to Tk 90 three days before Ramadan.

Cucumber prices have nearly doubled. Before Ramadan, cucumbers were selling at Tk 35 to Tk 40 per kg, but are now priced at Tk 60 while another local variety (khira) has jumped from Tk 30–40 to Tk 80 per kg.

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The price of eggplant has increased by Tk 20 to Tk 30 per kg. Previously available at Tk 30 to Tk 40, it is now being sold at Tk 70 per kg.

Tomato prices, which were below Tk 40 before Ramadan and rose to Tk 80 at the beginning of the month, have slightly declined to Tk 60 per kg. Although bottle gourd, cabbage and cauliflower are still selling below Tk 30, overall market instability persists.

Banana prices have risen abnormally with the start of Ramadan. Good quality bananas that previously sold at Tk 30 to Tk 40 per four-piece bunch are now being sold at Tk 60 to Tk 70.

Rezaul Karim, a resident of the Tushbhandar market area, said bananas are a daily necessity in his household and are especially important during Ramadan for iftar. “Even at higher prices, we are compelled to buy. Not only bananas, almost all fruits have become expensive,” he said.

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A market survey found apples (depending on variety) selling at Tk 360 to Tk 400 per kg, oranges at Tk 340, pomegranates at Tk 530 to Tk 600, pears at Tk 400, malta at Tk 300 to Tk 350, grapes at Tk 450 to Tk 600 and dates (depending on quality) at Tk 200 to Tk 1,200 per kg. Small pineapples are being sold at Tk 50 to Tk 70 per piece, jujube at Tk 100 to Tk 150 per kg, papaya at Tk 130 and guava at Tk 100 to Tk 120 per kg.

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Fruit trader Md Aman Khan said they are forced to buy at higher prices from wholesalers.

“Almost all fruits have increased by Tk 50 to Tk 100 per kg. If we purchase at high prices, it is not possible to sell at lower rates,” he said.

Md Sabed Ali, a resident of Namuri area in Aditmari upazila, said fruit prices have gone beyond the reach of low-income people.

“We wish to have fruits at iftar, but it is becoming difficult. In the morning there are fines, but by afternoon prices return to previous levels. There is hardly any effective monitoring,” he said, adding that visible market supervision by authorities has been lacking since the start of Ramadan.

Consumers alleged that weak market monitoring has allowed traders to increase prices arbitrarily. They demanded stronger surveillance and regular drives, warning that without coordinated efforts by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and the administration, the market situation could become more unstable throughout Ramadan.