Friday is the last holiday market before the start of Ramadan. That’s why most of the shoppers came to the market in the morning preparing to buy essential products for Ramadan. However, the buyers are not getting relief as the prices of most of the products have increased earlier. Many people are returning home without buying the necessary products waiting for the price to drop.
On Friday (March 8), various markets in the capital were seen.
The buyers said that the prices of several products including dates, gram, pulses, sugar have increased a lot in this Ramadan from the previous Ramadan. Which is beyond the reach of the lower and lower middle class.
It has been seen from the market that one kg of normal quality (zahedi) dates are now being sold at the rate of Tk 350 to Tk 400 in the market. Last year, just before fasting, a kg of such dates was Tk 200 to Tk 220. Besides, good quality dates have increased from Tk 800 to Tk 1200, which is Tk 400 more than last Ramadan.
On the other hand, chickpeas, the most essential of Ramadan, are being sold at Tk 105 to Tk 110 per kg. Last year at this time in the market, gram was 90 to 95 Tk per kg. As such, this time per kg has increased from Tk 15 to Tk 20. Similarly, a kg of kesari dal required for making onion is now being sold at Tk 110 to Tk 120 per kg. Which used to be between 90 and 100 taka.
Yunus Hossain, a grocer of Rampura Bazar, said that the prices of chickpeas, khesari dal and other pulses have gone up since long before fasting. Sugar price has not increased yet but may increase. Even if the price of oil falls, oil comes to the market at a new rate. All in all, there is no good news about Roja’s products.
Among other pulses, coarse, medium and fine grain lentils are being sold at Tk 105 to Tk 140 per kg. Anchor pulses are being sold at Tk 75 to Tk 80 per kg depending on the quality. And a kg of mung dal is 130 to 180 taka.
Meanwhile, Ansar Ali, a buyer in that market, said that the price has already been increased. Now there is no way to eat good or bad. I came to market during the holidays, many things were not sold in money. So I’m going back.
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Similarly last year at this time in the market sugar was bought at Tk 115 to Tk 120 per kg. Now to buy, the consumer has to spend 140 to 150 taka. That is, buyers have to spend 25 to 30 taka more per kg of sugar in a year.
Malibag market seller Muktar Hossain said, this year’s fast will be more expensive. There was worry on the foreheads of the devout Muslims who were waiting to fast after eating good and bad. But the retailers have nothing to do. We sell at a fraction of the price we bought it at. Government needs strict monitoring of mills and wholesale markets.
However, to rein in the prices of commodities during the fasting month, the government had on February 8 exempted import duties on dates, sugar, soya bean oil and rice. However, except soybean oil, the prices of other three products did not decrease slightly but increased. Not everyone benefits from soybean oil either. Because the market is supposed to supply new low-priced soybean oil from March 1, but most of the shops are still selling old-priced oil. In some shops, low-priced five-liter bottles are not found in one or two-liter bottles.
On the other hand, the price of onion, ginger and garlic does not decrease even when Ramadan comes. Last year before fasting, onion was 30 to 40 taka per kg. That price is now nearly triple. Onion is selling at 110 to 125 Tk per kg. As such, one kg of onion will cost more than 80 to 85 taka.
In the retail market, ginger was sold at Tk 220 to Tk 240 and garlic at Tk 220 to Tk 260 per kg. Which is about 100 taka more per kg than last Ramadan.
However, broiler chickens in the market have not yet surpassed last year’s prices. However, in the last two days, there has been an increase of Tk. 20 to Tk. 25 per kg. Two days ago a kg was sold at Tk 200 to Tk 210 but yesterday it was sold at Tk 220 to Tk 235. Last year at this time the rate was 230 to 250 taka.
However, beef has exceeded the price of this time last year. Beef is being sold at Tk 750 per kg. Last year before fasting was 700 to 720 taka.
NH/SNR/GKS
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