Vegetable prices have risen ahead of Ramadan. Broiler chicken has not gone up again but is selling at Tk 260, as it did last week, while Pakistani, cock and deshi chicken have become somewhat dearer. Gram (chickpeas) is the only item whose price has fallen. This was the picture in various markets in the capital on Friday (17 March).

Buyers and sellers said vegetable prices had risen by at least Tk 10–20 a kg in a week, with new vegetables rising the most. Sellers fear prices will rise further at the start of Ramadan.

Safiuzzaman, a seller at Malibagh kitchen market, said vegetable prices had been high for several days. New drumsticks, yardlong beans and taro stolons are now selling at high prices, and old (winter) vegetables have also become dearer, though by less.

Salam Hossain, a buyer at the same market, said most vegetables cost Tk 100–200. "Is this fair? There is nothing below Tk 50–60 except papaya. If it goes on like this, ordinary people will have to go hungry and eat plain rice. I am scared to hear the price of vegetables now."

At Shantinagar and Segunbagicha markets, drumsticks were selling at Tk 180–200 a kg, yardlong beans at Tk 100–120 and taro stolons at Tk 100–140.

Bitter gourd was selling at Tk 70–80 a kg, flat beans at Tk 50–60, pointed gourd at Tk 60–80, tomatoes at Tk 40–50, aubergines at Tk 60–90, snake gourd at Tk 60–80 and ridge gourd at Tk 60–70.

Bottle gourd was selling at Tk 50–80 each depending on size, and sweet pumpkin at Tk 20–40 a slice. Lemon prices have not come down, at Tk 60–80 a hali (four).

Vegetable seller Enamul Hossain said production had fallen because winter vegetables are finished and rice has been planted on many vegetable fields. Supply is therefore low and prices high, with the effect of the fasting month also at play. He said the prices of aubergines, cucumbers, lemons, tomatoes, coriander leaves and green chillies may rise somewhat once Ramadan begins.

Depending on the market, broiler chicken is selling at Tk 240–260 a kg, as last week. Other chicken has risen by Tk 20–50, with Pakistani chicken at Tk 340–380 and large cock chicken at Tk 320–360. Deshi chicken now costs Tk 500–550 per bird (800–900 grams).

Gram has become somewhat cheaper, selling at Tk 85–95 a kg against Tk 90–100 earlier, but no other product has fallen in price. Loose sugar is selling at Tk 115–120 a kg, lentils (masur dal) at Tk 135–150, khesari dal at Tk 80–90, anchor gram flour at Tk 75–85 and gram flour at Tk 100–110.

Jamal Mia, proprietor of Mayer Doa Store at Segunbagicha market, said prices had already risen as much as they were going to. There are now enough goods in the market for Ramadan, so nothing has gone up again.

Fish prices have been high for several weeks. Rui is selling at Tk 300–500 a kg depending on size, while Tk 800–1,000 is being asked for fish from local water bodies. Hilsa sold for Tk 1,350 to Tk 2,500.

Fish seller Tofazzal Mia said demand for fish had risen since meat became dearer, so the fish market was also a little higher, with prices up by at least Tk 50–100 a kg.

Beef is selling at Tk 750 a kg, goat meat at Tk 900 and castrated goat (khasi) meat at Tk 1,200.

A buyer named Jahangir said of meat prices, "I don't remember when I last bought meat. Ramadan is coming, so I came to check the prices."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.