Residents of Magura are increasingly distressed as the prices of essential commodities have surged alarmingly across the district. The sudden spike has left many struggling to make ends meet, raising widespread concerns about the impact on daily life. In recent weeks, prices of various essential items, including vegetables, eggs, and chillies, have escalated dramatically. The price of raw chillies has soared to Tk 500 per kg, an incredible increase from just Tk 100 to Tk 120 per kg two weeks ago.  Similarly, farm eggs are now selling at a record high of Tk 180 per dozen, up from Tk 150 a week earlier. Local markets have felt the impact of these price hikes, making it increasingly difficult for families, especially those from middle and lower-middle-class households, to afford basic groceries. The prices of potatoes, bitter gourds, and brinjals have also surged, with potatoes now costing Tk 60 per kilogram, pointed gourds at Tk 80 per kg, and brinjals reaching Tk 120 per kg. Read: Drives conducted in Dhaka’s kitchen markets to monitor prices of essentials “This is becoming unbearable. Everything costs more, yet our incomes remain unchanged. It’s a struggle to buy groceries,” lamented a local buyer. The situation is dire, with some families reportedly leaving markets empty-handed due to soaring prices.  “Many come to the market without buying anything and leave disappointed, while others are forced to pay inflated prices,” another resident added. Market control officials attribute the crisis to excessive rainfall disrupting supply chains, and rising wholesale prices.  “Due to heavy rainfall and increased wholesale prices, the costs of raw chilies and vegetables are rising daily,” stated an official. They expressed concern that if this trend continues, prices may escalate further. Rising transport costs are also contributing to the increases, they noted. The repercussions of these price surges are evident, with many vendors reporting a decline in sales. “I used to sell out my stock easily, but now many customers leave without making a purchase,” said one seller, highlighting the impact on local businesses. Read more: Special task force formed to monitor prices of daily essentials The markets have become nearly devoid of small fish, with what little remains priced beyond the reach of average buyers. Larger fish are also expensive, making them inaccessible to many. Even during the peak hilsa season, prices remain high, with almost every vegetable priced at 80 to 120 takas. Meanwhile, although the prices of beef, goat, and both local and broiler chicken have not surged, the costs of rice and oil have increased. District market control officer Mamunul Islam confirmed that excessive rainfall and rising wholesale prices are driving up the costs of raw chilies and vegetables. He noted the potential for further price increases if the situation continues, exacerbated by rising transport costs.  Read more: Essentials’ prices up in Khulna kitchen markets

In the aftermath of the January 7 national election, the kitchen markets in Khulna have witnessed a substantial hike in the prices of daily essentials, severely impacting middle-class and low-income families. This sudden increase in prices is making it increasingly difficult for these groups to manage their household budgets. Recent market trends show a noticeable rise in the cost of various commodities. In particular, the prices of rice have seen a significant uptick over the past week. Seasonal factors have also led to increased vegetable prices during the winter, and essentials like broiler chicken, flour, pulses, chickpeas, ginger, and garlic are not exempt from this trend. RMG workers in Gazipur demonstrate for wages set by govt, gridlock on Dhaka-Tangail highway Local consumers express a sense of helplessness, feeling like hostages to what appears to be an uncontrollable syndicate. This situation has exacerbated their financial challenges, especially for those struggling to meet daily expenses. Traders attribute this surge in prices to a poor supply chain. However, residents speculate that certain unscrupulous traders are exploiting the post-election period to unjustifiably raise prices. A recent survey of Khulna's kitchen markets revealed the following price points: Miniket rice at Tk 68-70 per kg, BR-28 Paijam variety at Tk 65-66 per kg, and local variety rice at Tk 50-52 per kg. Vegetable prices have also surged, with beans costing Tk 80-100 per kg, cauliflowers and cabbages at Tk 50 each, and eggplant, ridge gourd, and bottle gourd ranging from Tk 80 to Tk 100. The poultry market is not immune to these increases, with broiler chicken now at Tk 220-225 per kg after a Tk 20 increase, and Pakistani chicken at Tk 320-340. Beef prices have also risen, selling at Tk 700 per kg despite authorities setting the price at Tk 650. Karwan Bazar slum fire: Firefighters recover 2 burnt bodies Amirul Islam, a local fish trader, noted that fish prices have escalated by Tk 10-50. Additionally, the cost of chickpeas has jumped from Tk 85-90 to Tk 100-110 per kg, and high-quality pulses are now at Tk 150-160 per kg. Even the price of local onions has risen, now selling at Tk 80-100 per kg, up from the previous Tk 80-90. This alarming price rise in essential commodities is placing significant strain on the residents of Khulna, with the most substantial impact felt by those in the middle and lower economic brackets.

Prices of daily essentials are on the rise in Khulna kitchen markets, and many blame the lack of monitoring from local administration. Already the prices of rice, edible oil, sugar, potato, onion and garlic and other essentials have increased, causing untold suffering for the low- and middle-income people. Besides, due to lack of monitoring some unscrupulous traders are being encouraged to raise prices arbitrarily. During a recent visit to the local markets in Khulna, this correspondent found green chilies being sold at Tk 100 per kg while it was Tk 60 per kg two weeks ago. One kg bitter gourd was being sold at Tk 80 while it was Tk 70 before, okra at Tk 40-45 per kg, pumpkin at Tk 30 per kg, potato at Tk 30-40 per kg, onion (local variety) at Tk 50-55 per kg while Indian variety at Tk 45 per kg, garlic (local variety) at Tk 140-170 per kg and Chinese variety at Tk 180 per kg, eggplant at Tk 40-50 per kg, green papaya at Tk 30 per kg, and green banana Tk 40 per four pieces. Also read: With no easing of price hike, tough times for people in Khulna as Ramadan begins Friday Besides, one kg rice (basmati) is being sold at Tk 80, Miniket rice at Tk 65-70, Balam-28 rice at Tk 58-60 per kg while it was Tk 50-55 two weeks ago, and Swarna rice at Tk 48-50 while it was Tk 45-46 before. Meanwhile, one litre of bottled edible oil is being sold at Tk 199 as the government has recently increased the price of edible oil by Tk 12 per litre. Besides, the price of sugar has also increased in the local market though traders blamed the international market for the soaring price of sugar. One kg sugar is being sold at Tk 140. Earlier, in April, the Commerce Ministry fixed the maximum retail price of loose sugar at Tk 104 instead of Tk 107 and packaged sugar at Tk 109 per kg from Tk 112. Shafiqul Islam, a trader of KCC Sandhya Bazar said the prices of vegetables are also in a rising trend due to the low supply against the demand.  

Police on Tuesday foiled a bid  of Leftist Democratic Alliance(LDA) activists to besiege the Commerce Ministry as a protest against soaring prices of daily essentials including soyabean oil. LDA activists gathered in front of the secretariat in the morning with placards and banners as part of their prescheduled programme.  Also read: Fakhrul demands withdrawal of soybean oil price hike

BNP on Monday alleged that the ruling party business syndicate has raised the prices of daily essentials for lack of the government’s market intervention. "The prices of essentials have gone up several hundred times. The market syndicate of their own (ruling party's) people have done this,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said though the prices of all essentials have skyrocketed, there is no government intervention to control it. Read: Govt filing ‘false’ cases against BNP leaders again: Fakhrul “The Awami government has created a manmade disaster in Bangladesh through the unlimited rise in commodity prices, misrule, enforced disappearances, killings and extrajudicial killings,” Rizvi observed. The BNP leader also alleged that Awami League government has made the people of the country even poorer in the last 12 years. He came down hard on Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi for his comment that the government has nothing to do with the rise in commodity prices. “His comment has exposed that Awami League is not running the country. When you’ve nothing to do then who runs the country? Is any invisible force running the country?” The BNP leader said the commerce minister's statement is nothing but a strong defence for corruption. “It’s also a cruel joke of the minister against the unemployed, half-starved and starving people of the country.” He also questioned the government as to why it remains in power by force when it cannot deal with people’s problems.  Read: Govt 'indulging again' in acts of enforced disappearance, abduction: BNP “A decent government steps down when it fails and can’t do anything for people. This is a practice in the democratic world. But you (govt) have been there in power shamelessly through an illegal parliament,” Rizvi said. He slammed Prime Minister's ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy for his remark that the country was pushed back 50 years during BNP's five-year rule. “He (Joy) did not say how Awami League has taken the country forward…His remarks give an impression that he has studied in a strange institute. Mr Joy is the headmaster of providing bizarre information.”

BNP on Sunday announced a two-day programme in protest against the unusual rise in the prices of daily essentials, and demanding the resignation of the Commerce Minister and the Election Commission.

Although the government claims that the country has enough food reserves, the prices of daily essentials are rising in the kitchen markets, triggering unbearable sufferings to the city dwellers.

The government has formed a special committee to keep the prices of daily essentials stable during the holy month of  Ramadan, said Commerce secretary Md Jafar Uddin on Saturday.