TDS Desk:

Prices of green chillies have risen again in the capital’s kitchen markets, with the retail price reaching Tk100-110 for 250 grams and Tk400 per kg on Sunday.

Even a week ago, the kitchen essential could be bought at Tk180-220 per kg, but the price has risen at an alarming rate and traders have blamed the incessant rains over the past week for this situation.

Besides, the price of chicken eggs has increased by Tk10 to Tk15 per dozen over the past week and is being sold at Tk180. Consumers have expressed dissatisfaction with the price of eggs and blamed syndication and price manipulation, but sellers deny this.

Apart from green chillies and eggs, the price of every item of vegetables has increased from Tk20 to Tk60 per kg.

Green chilli too hot!The retailers at Shewrapara, Mohammadpur Krishi Market, Mohakhali Kitchen Market, and Kuratoli Kitchen Market in the capital admitted the facts.

Vegetable seller Imamul Haque of Kuratoli Bazar said that a couple of days ago they were selling green chillies at Tk200, but now the amount has increased to Tk400.

He said, ‘This is really absurd. We used to sell chillies per kg from Tk180 to Tk200. But the price per kg of green chillies has now reached Tk400.”

Currently, green chillies, both imported and locally produced, are being sold in the market. The price of green chillies has fluctuated several times in the past three to four months due to heat, floods or heavy rains.

Green chillies were sold at Tk180-220 last week, but later the price continued to rise.

The prices of other vegetables also increased in the market. Most of the vegetables are being sold at Tk80-150.

A week ago, the cowpea could be bought at Tk80-120 per kg, but it was sold at Tk140-150 per kg on Sunday. The price of brinjal has increased by Tk60 to Tk160-180 per kg.

Prices of almost all types of vegetables, including tomato, pointed gourd, ridge gourd, snake gourd, sponge gourd, and bitter gourd, have increased.

Citing the rain as the cause of the spike in vegetable prices, Housewife Masnuva Gulshan, who was buying vegetables at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said, ‘Traders just need an excuse to increase the price.’

Farm chicken brown eggs are still available in the market at Tk170-175 per dozen. This price is Tk180 or more per dozen now.

The price of broiler chickens has also raised and is being sold at Tk200 to Tk210 per kg that day.

Even seven days ago, this price was Tk 180-185.

The price of broiler chicken in the market has also reached Tk200. Broiler chickens were sold at Tk 200 to Tk 210 per kg on the day.

Just seven days ago, the cost of grill chickens, which are an essential source of protein for the underprivileged, was Tk180–185.