2024-02-29 04:47:13
The holy month of Ramadan will start on March 12 subject to moon sighting. 15 days before Ramadan, prices of daily commodities have increased.
On Monday (February 26), it was seen that the prices of sugar, onions, chickpeas, dates, sugar, chicken etc. have increased by Tk 5 to Tk 15 per kg compared to last week.
Talking to wholesale and retail traders, it is known that the price of chickpea has increased by Tk 10 to Tk 15 to Tk 105 to Tk 115 per kg within a week.
Mohammad Beloyet Hossain, the owner of Mother’s Doa grocery store in Kaptan Bazar, said that there are still about 15 days left for the month of Ramadan. Everything has gone up in price already. The price of sugar increased from Tk 7 to Tk 12 per kg to Tk 145-150. Even 25 days ago I used to buy open sugar per kg from the wholesale market at Tk 130. Now it has to be bought for 137 rupees. A packet of sugar has to be bought at Tk 145. We are selling chickpeas at Tk 105 to Tk 110 and khesari dal at Tk 85 to Tk 90. Onion is being sold at Tk 115 to Tk 125 per kg. Open white flour has increased from Tk 45 to Tk 50.
He said, we are buying at a higher price and selling at a small profit. The government should strictly monitor the market. Especially, those who are big wholesale traders, need to see their money receipts. Legal action needs to be taken by looking at how much they bought and how much they are selling.
Borhan, a fruit trader in Rayerbagh market, said that normal quality dates are now being sold at Tk 300 to Tk 500 per kg. Fairly good quality dates are being sold at 700 rupees.
Mohammad Salam Howladar, a seller of M/s Lamia Traders in Kaptan Bazar, said that last year I sold sugar at the rate of Tk 120 per kg during Ramadan. This year I am selling it at 145-150 taka. Last year I sold chickpeas at 80 taka per kg. Now I am selling it at 105 to 115 rupees depending on the quality.
Kaptan market chicken trader. Shamim Mia said, at the end of January, I sold chicken for 180 to 185 taka. After 10th of February the prices started increasing. We are selling broiler chickens from Tk 210 to Tk 215 per kg on the eve of Shabbat. Other chicken prices have increased by Tk 15 to Tk 20 per kg.
According to Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) market monitoring data, prices of 18 types of products have increased compared to last month. At this time last month, the market price of chickpea was Tk 85 to Tk 90 per kg.
Jasim Uddin, a buyer who came to Kaptan Bazar, said that the prices of all things, including daily necessities, are increasing by leaps and bounds, but the income is not increasing. Last year at this time I bought onions at the rate of 35-40 taka per kg. That onion is now 115 Tk. The prices of sugar and gram have also increased. 15 days left of Ramadan, now so much! I am tensed about what will happen when Ramadan starts.
Commerce State Minister Ahsanul Islam Titu said that the government is working to ensure the supply of goods during the month of Ramadan. Prime Minister’s instructions, common people should get products at a fair price. Legal action will be taken if any mill or product importer willfully fails to supply the product. Legal action will be taken against dishonest traders by market monitoring.
It is to be noted that the National Board of Revenue (NBR) announced on February 8 to reduce the duty-tax on rice, sugar, oil and dates to keep the prices of products in the market bearable before fasting. However, there are still no signs of a reduction in the prices of any product in the market.