A new syndicate of extortionists seems to have appeared in the city’s kitchen market as the prices of essential commodities still remain high, hitting consumers hard.
Market insiders allege that the new syndicate has started manipulating the kitchen market to line their pockets due to absence of ‘proper’ monitoring after the political changeover.
The kitchen market remained stable for some days after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government but it started heating up with the influence of the new group.
traders say that they have to charge high as they buy essentials at high rates. Consumers say that there is a big gap between their incomes and expenses.
Amid rising prices, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) conducted drives at various kitchen markets in the capital on Thursday aiming to keep the prices of essentials stable and their supply normal.
Quoting deputy commissioner of Chuadanga, DNCRP assistant director Sajal Ahmed told the Bangladesh Post that about 100 trucks of vegetables are sent to different parts of the country, including Dhaka, every day.
“The prices at local level are not so high. But we cannot say anything about why the prices go up in the capital,” he said.
While talking to this correspondent at Ananda Bazar in the city on Thursday, Maruf Billah, a private jobholder, said that he had to spend a handsome amount of money on buying essential commodities.
“I am spending money from my savings on buying some commodities today (Thursday),” he added.
Visiting some kitchen markets in the capital, this correspondent found that the prices of daily commodities remain the same as before.
Potatoes were being sold at Tk 60 per kg while tomatoes at Tk 140, beans at Tk 240, papaya at Tk 30, ribbed gourd (Jhinga) at Tk 60, chichinga at Tk 60, yardlong bean (borboti) at Tk 70, sponge gourd (dhundal) at Tk 50, bitter gourd at Tk 60, ladies finger at Tk 50, pointed gourd (Potal) at Tk 60, spiny gourd at Tk 70, brinjal at Tk 60-80, sweet pumpkin at Tk 50, cucumber at Tk 40-50, taro root (kochur mukhi) at Tk 60 per kg.
Some 4 pieces of lemons were sold at Tk 30. The price of green chilli was Tk 160-200 per kg.
Like last week, per kg onion was sold at Tk 120, ginger at Tk 200 and garlic at Tk 220.
Tayub Ali, a shopkeeper at Ananda Bazar, said, after the formation of the new government, the prices of vegetables have not decreased, but their prices remain high.
“There is no vegetable below Tk 60 in the market yet. It is because a new syndicate has been formed in place of the old one,” he added.
Meanwhile, the prices of almost all varieties of chicken decreased in the last few days. Pakistani chicken was sold at Tk 230 while broiler chicken was being sold at Tk 170 per kg.
The price of eggs increased by Tk 10 to 15 per dozen in the last few days. The price of egg was Tk 150 per dozen while beef was selling at Tk 750-800 per kg.
Ashik Rahman, who came to buy broiler chicken in Hatirpool Bazar, said that the price of chicken has come down a bit and thus he feels relieved.
Prices of different varieties of fish also remained high in the market. Pangas and Telapia were not available below Tk 220 per kg.
The price of Ruhi (farm) fish was Tk 320-400 per kg while the prices of indigenous varieties of fish were beyond the reach of common people. Among other species, Nala fish was sold at tk 240, Grass carp at Tk 250, Puti at Tk 200 and Chandana fish at Tk 300.
The national fish hilsa (above 1 kg) was sold at Tk 1700, 1 kg weight hilsa at Tk 1500 and weighing between 600 to 900 grams was sold at Tk 1400 per kg.
Asked about the high price, Jahangir, a trader, said that, “As the flood waters started receding, the fishermen cannot catch fish huge amount of fish. As a result, the price of Hilsha is still high.”
Abul Bashar, shopkeeper of Ananda Bazar said he was selling variety of rice at Tk 60-75 per kg. Local lentil is being sold at Tk 140 while Indian at Tk 110.
Besides, Mung dal is available at Tk 175 as last week while Soybean oil is available at Tk 168 per kg.
