Fuel price hike drives up Dhaka kitchen mkts

Vegetable prices in the capital have surged by Tk 10 to Tk 20 per kilogram within a week following the recent hike in fuel prices.

A market survey across various kitchen markets in Dhaka on Friday (September 25) revealed this price hike trend.

Prices of essential vegetables, including brinjal, bitter gourd, pointed gourd, and ladies' finger, have increased sharply. Brinjal is now selling at Tk 100 to Tk 120 per kg, up from Tk 90 to Tk 100 a week ago.

Bitter gourd prices have reached Tk 80 to Tk 100 per kg, while pointed gourd and okra are selling at Tk 60 to Tk 80 per kg. Prices of sponge gourd and ridge gourd have also increased by Tk 10 to Tk 20 per kg. However, green papaya remains stable at Tk 30 per kg.

Traders attributed the market surge directly to rising transport expenses. On September 20, the government raised diesel, kerosene, petrol, and octane prices by Tk 20 per litre, effective from September 21.

A seller from Mirpur-1 market noted that higher transport fares forced wholesalers to raise prices. Another trader explained that renting a medium truck from Jashore to Karwan Bazar now costs Tk 21,000, up from Tk 18,000 before the fuel price adjustment.

Consumers expressed deep frustration over the steep price jumps, accusing sellers of taking advantage of the situation. Local buyers from Mirpur-11 market stated that higher fuel costs should only cause a slight price increase of Tk 1 to Tk 2 per kg. They criticized the lack of proper market oversight, which allows traders to raise prices arbitrarily.

Despite the vegetable price hike, prices of farm eggs, broiler chicken, and rice remain mostly unchanged. Eggs are selling at Tk 150 to Tk 155 per dozen, and broiler chicken is trading at Tk 185 to Tk 195 per kg.

However, pasteurised liquid milk prices have gone up by Tk 10 per litre across several private brands, following a similar hike by state-owned Milk Vita. Prices of flour and coarse flour also remain elevated after corporate suppliers adjusted rates two weeks ago.

-SA