Prices at Dhaka's kitchen markets have increased since last week, which traders at Hatirpool and Rampura attribute to a supply shortage
Most vegetables and poultry prices have risen by an average of Tk 10–Tk 30.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Hatirpool trader Tarek H Bhoumik, said: “Supply is very short compared to demand. Hence prices have been progressively increasing since last week.”
At the Hatirpool kitchen market, gourds and bitter gourd were being sold at Tk 90–Tk 110 on Friday; while tomatoes were being sold at Tk 40–50 per kg, local onions at Tk 35 per kg, and imported Indian onions at Tk 15–Tk 20 per kg.
Eggplant prices rose by almost Tk 40 since last month to Tk 60–Tk 70 per kg. Bottle gourd prices went from Tk 20–25 per piece to Tk 40–Tk 50, while papaya prices increased from Tk 10–Tk 15 to Tk 25–Tk 35 per kg.
Cucumber prices last month were at Tk 25 per kg, but now they are being sold at Tk 40–Tk 50 per kg. Pumpkin prices rose to Tk 50 per piece from Tk 35 per piece in February.
Additionally, the price of broiler chickens rose to Tk 170 per kg, up by Tk 30 since last week's price of Tk 140 per kg.
Rampura retailer Mizan said prices will remain at these levels for the next two weeks, until the supply shortage is addressed. “Most vegetables got spoiled in the rain," he explained.
A customer at the Rampura kitchen market, housewife Rebecca Sultana, termed the sudden price hike as "absurd", adding: “If there was proper monitoring by the government, traders would not be able to increase prices like this. Our incomes have not gone up so how can we pay such high prices?”