Green chilli prices have surged to Tk400 per kilogram in Dhaka’s retail markets, marking the steepest increase among daily essentials and adding to the strain on household budgets. Prices of onions, eggs and fish have also climbed, while most vegetables continue to sell at elevated levels.
A visit to New Market, Karwan Bazar and Hatirpool markets in the capital today (31) found green chilli retailing at Tk400 a kg. Vendors were selling 100 grams for Tk40 and 250 grams for Tk100, although buyers purchasing half a kilogram or more were receiving discounts of Tk20-30.
Abdul Karim, a vegetable vendor at New Market, said green chilli prices had risen by around Tk100 per kg in just one week. “Last week I sold it for Tk280-300 a kg. The week before that, it was Tk180-200,” he said.
Onion prices also continued to rise. Domestic onions, which sold for Tk40-45 per kg one-and-a-half to two weeks ago, were retailing at Tk55-65.
Mohammad Sohel, an onion trader at New Market, said the increase stemmed from higher wholesale prices. “We used to sell this variety at Tk40, but now we have to charge Tk60. Good-quality Pabna onions are selling for as much as Tk65 per kg,” he said.
Most vegetables still above Tk100 a kg
Long brinjal was selling for Tk120-150 per kg, round black brinjal for Tk180 and white brinjal for Tk140. Sponge gourd and pointed gourd eased to Tk60-80 per kg, while bitter gourd was selling for Tk120-140, taro corms (kochur mukhi) for Tk80-100, yardlong beans for Tk110-130 and snake gourd for Tk90-100 per kg.
Mohammad Rashed, another vegetable seller at New Market, said prices of two or three vegetables had declined, but brinjal and several other items had become more expensive over the past week.
About The Author
