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.

LGRD Minister Tazul Islam has said wholesale and retail kitchen markets should be set up at places designated  by the government to reduce traffic jam and public hassles. “Action will be taken against those who will set up shops occupying roads that hampers people’s movement,” he said. He said this on Thursday after visiting Gabtoli kitchen market aiming to relocate Karwan Bazar there. Also read: LGRD Minister directs WASA to fix water price in capital rationally “Karwan Bazar was established long ago and goods from this market are distributed in retail markets of the city. Traders coming from different parts of the country struggle to reach here while distribution also becomes a struggle due to traffic jam. So we have started working on how Karwan Bazar can be shifted to a different suitable point of Dhaka,” he said. He said wholesale and retail kitchen markets should not set up at the same place in densely populated areas and it is better if wholesale kitchen markets can be shifted outside the city. “The mayors and councilors will decide how many markets are needed in an area instead of establishing wholesale and retail kitchen markets everywhere. If new markets are needed it will be done identifying the suitable spots,” the minister  said. Also read: Re-excavated canals: LGRD Minister predicts less waterlogging in Dhaka “It’s not logical to establish a three-storied building for kitchen market but at Gabtoli it is being made to sell other products like electronics goods in the upper floors. Our main aim is to build a planned and beautiful Dhaka,”he added. 

Prices of fish and vegetables have shot up in the kitchen markets of Khulna after Eid holidays, bringing a blow to people from middle and low income groups. The consumers alleged that every year after Eid, traders sell vegetables and fish at higher prices. Despite having enough supply, the prices have gone up, said some consumers who came to New Market in the city five days after Eid to buy vegetables and fish. However, vegetable traders in different markets of the city said that there is a shortage of vegetables in the market. In the city markets, pointed gourd, eggplant, ladies-finger, bitter gourd, papaya, colocasia stem and different spinaches are selling between Tk 50-60 per Kg while potatoes, carrots, green chilies and cucumbers between Tk 100-150 per kg. Read: Spice prices shoot up ahead of Eid despite sufficient stock Hilsas are selling between Tk 1000-1500 per kg while prawns and lobsters at Tk 700-1200 per kg. Hilsa trader Joynal said they collect fish from Khulna New Market. Hilsa  supply is low in the wholesale market as many fishermen did not go to the sea during EId. “So the prices seem a bit high.” Besides, rohita, katla, pangasea, tilapia, Bhetki, puti and tengra are selling between Tk 200-600 per kg. Imran, a buyer who came to Rupsha kitchen market, said that he came to the market to buy fish and vegetables after getting bored of eating meat since Eid and found the price of fish  very high. “Every year after Eid the market becomes unstable.” Sheikh Palash Hossain, president of the Wholesale Traders' Association, said the prices of vegetables  usually increase in the post-Eid time, which is normal. Besides, the supply of vegetables in the market is less due to Eid vacation, he said. “The prices of vegetables and fishe go up as their demand increases after Eid,” he added.

The overheated kitchen markets in Dhaka left the middle class and marginal income groups of people gasping even in the winter season. “We’re now in the middle of winter. The prices of key vegetables should have gone down by the time, but the prices are on fire,” said Shamim Gowher, a businessman.     After visiting various kitchen markets, the UNB Correspondent found that the retailers were selling popular vegetables at Tk 50 to Tk 90 per kg claiming that there was a short supply in major wholesale markets. But the wholesalers claimed that the retailers are charging higher prices for vegetables for no reason. According to his market investigation, the price of broiler chicken has shot up to Tk 200 a kg, pinching the pockets of commoners already battered by the surging prices of other essentials like rice, edible oil, sugar and pulses. Visiting some wholesale kitchen markets, the correspondent observed that the winter vegetables are selling at 20 percent to 30 percent higher prices based on quality this year compared to that of the previous year. The price variation of vegetables also is based on areas like Gulshan, Banani and Hatirpool. The prices of vegetables at Karwan Bazar, Mohammadpur Krishi Market, Mirpur, Khilgaon, Fakirapool and Motijheel are almost similar. Read:Spectre of panic buying returns to kitchen markets ahead of lockdown

Kitchen markets in Dhaka saw huge crowds of Hilsa lovers on Sunday evening as they rushed to buy the delicious fish ahead of a 22-day ban on its catching, selling, hoarding and transporting. Many of the customers, however, retuned home empty as most of the sellers of the popular fish ran out of their stocks by 10 PM due to its high demand and supply crunch. Read: 22-day ban on Hilsa fishing begins Sunday midnight Talking to UNB, some Hilsa traders at Karwan Bazar said this season saw its higher prices due to its short supply and large volumes of export. “The demand was very high, even well before the restriction period, due to the short supply,” said Kamrul Hasan, a fish trader. The government has given a go-ahead to 52 companies to export 2,080 tonnes of Hilsa to India by October 10, ahead of Durga Puja, the largest festival of the Hindu community. The government had banned the Hilsa export to India in 2012 but it approved the export of 500 tonnes of the fish in 2019 and 475 tonnes in 2020. The 22-day Hilsa ban took effect on Sunday midnight as it is aimed at ensuring the safe spawning of the popular fish during its peak breeding period. The ban will remain in place till October 25. Read: Durga Puja: 23 tonnes of Hilsa sent to India through Benapole Fisheries Department, upazila and district administrations, police and coast guard personnel will carry out regular drives to make sure that the ban is implemented strictly. Aminul Islam, district fisheries officer of Laxmipur, told UNB that there are around 52,000 fishermen in his district and 3,000 of them are registered. They will get around 40 kg food aid as compensation during this restriction period, he said. Meanwhile, the district administration was seen campaigning along riversides to make the fishermen aware about the importance of the government decision. Read:Govt to consult experts to boost Hilsa production: Dipu Moni On Sunday, Raunak Mahmud, secretary of the fisheries and livestock ministry, said some 1,118.068 metric tons of VGF rice has been allocated for 555,944  fishermen families in 36 districts where the  ban on selling and fishing Hilsa will be enforced. According to Protection and Conservation of Fish Rules, 1985, fishermen not abiding by the ban can be punished with a minimum of 1 to maximum of 2 years’ rigorous imprisonment or be fined up to TK 5,000.

The prices of most vegetables have doubled in the capital’s kitchen markets compared to a week ago due to supply crunch, according to consumers. At several kitchen markets in the city on Sunday, each kg broiler chicken was selling at Tk170-180 which was Tk150-160 a week ago. It was sold for Tk120-130 last month. Besides, the prices of different daily essential commodities including soybean and palm oil, chicken, flour and sugar keep on soaring in Dhaka’s kitchen markets ahead of the month of Ramadan. The consumers urged the government to take proper steps to control the prices at the kitchen markets in the holy month of Ramadan amid the COVID-19 crisis. Also read: Prices of daily essentials soar in kitchen markets Shariful Alam, a resident of Amulia, said he has to purchase most vegetables at double the prices compared to a week ago. “Today I bought a kg of aubergine and cucumber at Tk50 which was Tk25 respectively in the last week. Besides, I purchased a kg broiler at Tk170 which was Tk150 a week ago,” he also shared. A hali of lemon (four pieces) was selling at Tk40-60, each kg arum at Tk40-50, bitter gourd at Tk50-60, papaya at Tk40, bean at Tk40-60 and yardlong bean at Tk50, lady's finger at Tk60, calabash at Tk40-50, and patal (pointed gourd) at Tk50-60 in capital.

 

India's decision to lift a ban on onion exports from January 1 may have provided some relief to Bangladeshi consumers but has led to a wave of anger among importers.

When it comes to vegetables, the general rule is that you pay less in winter than in summer. But this season, the drop in mercury has failed to cool off the prices of essentials in the kitchen markets of the capital.

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.