Rains have pushed up prices of almost all vegetables and other essential items at kitchen markets in Dhaka city.
Consumers have complained about weak market monitoring by the authorities concerned, using which dishonest traders are charging higher prices.
The retailers, however, have claimed natural causes and increased demands on the occasion of festivals behind the price hikes.
Prices of vegetables shot up by Tk20 to Tk30 per kg, badly hitting people, especially the low and fixed-income groups.
Abdul Hamid, a vegetable vendor at a Hatirpool Kitchen Market, said that brinjal sold at Tk50 a kg on Saturday, which was Tk35-40 in previous week.
Besides, green chilies are selling at Tk40 per kg, which was Tk20, while bitter gourd are selling at Tk 60 a kg compared to Tk50 one week ago.
The prices of cucumber have gone up by Tk10 to Tk15 a kg, while prices of okra, papaya and snake gourd rose by Tk10 to Tk12 per kg, compared to last week.
AH Patuary, who came to the market from Rajarbagh area, alleged: “It is really tough for the low and fixed-income group people to buy vegetables at the present market prices.”
Meanwhile, prices of chicken went up by Tk10 a kg.
Poultry seller Jubyer Hossain said per kg of broiler was selling at Tk170, up from Tk160 while red chicken sold at Tk 290, up from Tk270 last week.
Another vendor Haji Abdus Subhan said the prices of essentials rose due to higher demand for the past several weeks and various festivals.
He claims: “Crops have been damaged because of rains while the winter vegetables are no more in the market. That is why there is a shortfall of supply.”
“This situation will continue until new vegetables arrive,” he observes.
Consumer Rakib Bhuiya said many families reduced their consumption for the soaring prices, referring to the statement of Food Minister Sadan Chandra who last week urged people not eat too much.
Housewife Ramesha Mondol said: “I have bought a kg of eggplant for Tk50, but a week ago I bought it for Tk40.”
East-West University student Suhana Sabrina and her friend, who came to Rampura Kitchen Market, said that vegetables were selling at higher price.
Students living in boarding houses were the worst sufferers because of the price hike, they shared their experience.
Retailer Abdus Samad said onion sold for Tk24 to Tk25 per kg, which was Tk20 to Tk21 while potato sold at Tk13 to Tk15, which was Tk10 to Tk11 a week ago.
The price of local variety of garlic went up by Tk10 and was selling at Tk50 per kg, which was Tk40last week. But imported garlic sold Tk85 per kg. Similarly the price of imported Indian onions also increased, selling at Tk30 per kg, which was Tk25.
Per kg pointed guard sold at Tk60, per kg ribbed gourd at Tk100 and per kg yard-long bean at Tk65 to Tk70. The prices of papaya varied from Tk30 to Tk40 per kg.
Though the price of mutton remained unchanged at Tk800, the price of beef ranged from Tk520 to Tk560. The prices of rice, lentil and others essential items, however, remained stable.