Onion, grocery prices rise again

A private service holder named Asraf Ali came to Khilgaon kitchen market to buy two kilograms of onions, but he was very disappointed by the price.

"I bought one kilogram of onions for Tk65, but it was Tk45 two days ago," said Asraf, adding that the price of other grocery items was also rising.

Although the price is rising for most grocery products, onions secure first place in that race. Only in the last two days, the price of onions rose by Tk15-20 per kilogram while it was Tk35 last week.

Visiting several markets, it was found that the local variety of onion is being sold for Tk60-70 in different markets while the Indian variety cost between Tk50-60.

When asked about the increased prices of onions, the wholesalers replied that it is the shortage of supply rather than the demand that is increasing the price.

Thus, the price of this particular grocery item has increased.

Kitchen market experts at Karwan Bazar say that the country is returning to the way things were before. Hence, the prices are on the rise, they believe.

People are going out of their homes, the restaurants have reopened and social programmes are taking place. All these factors are causing the rise in the demand, they said. 

However, the price of other spices including garlic remains the same. Now it is sold between Tk80-110 per kilogram.

The price of ginger witnessed a slight decline in prices. It is now sold for Tk130-150 per kilogram while it was sold for Tk140-160 last week.

The price of green chilli has had a drastic fall, and per kilogram of this item costs Tk150, which was Tk250-300 a day before.

However, the prices of other goods including rice, oil, eggs, potatoes are also high. It even costs Tk50 to get a bundle of ordinary vegetables.

Eggs are sold for Tk110 a dozen, which was Tk100 last week. Potato is sold at Tk40-45 per kilogram but it was Tk32-36 in the past week.

The price of low quality rice has also increased by Tk1-3 per kilogram since last week, and is now sold for Tk44-48.

However, the price of the medium quality rice remains unchanged compared to what it was last week. It costs Tk48 to 53 per kilogram while the fine miniket rice is Tk56-60.

Other vegetables, including radishes, edible root and parbal cost Tk60-65 per kilogram. Some other vegetables like ribbed gourd is Tk70-75, ladies' finger is Tk55-60 and papaya is Tk50-55 per kilogram.

And the costly vegetables are bitter gourd and eggplants – both of them are sold at Tk80-100. But the price may vary based on market locations. 

The sellers say that vegetable prices have increased since last week, and the trend may continue for a couple of weeks more.

"If the price hike continues everyday, how can we survive?" asked Asraf, adding that they had a reduced income because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Also a recent study has found that 96 percent families in Bangladesh had faced a reduction of average monthly earnings due to the coronavirus outbreak, while 91 percent families have become financially unstable.

The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) jointly conducted the study.

President of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Golam Rahman said, "The income of the people has decreased. Their purchasing capacity has also reduced accordingly, especially for lower income people."

But in contrast, the prices of daily needs are rising which is a matter of concern, he said.

The problem needs immediate attention or more people in the country may go under the poverty line.