Prices of pulses surge up to Tk15 a kg in two weeks
On Thursday, lentils imported from Canada and Australia were sold at Tk3,060-3,100 per maund (37.32 kilograms), up from Tk2,500-2,550 two weeks ago and Tk2,100-2,150 a month ago, in the country’s largest wholesale consumer market in Khatunganj
The prices of different varieties of pulses in the country's largest wholesale consumer market in Khatunganj have gone up by Tk4-15 per kilogram over the last two weeks.
Wholesale pulse traders in Khatunganj said the demand for pulses in the market is normal and there is also an ample supply of products, but the prices are gradually growing mainly following an increase in the booking price of the product in the international market.
On Thursday, lentils imported from Canada and Australia were sold at Tk3,060-3,100 per maund (37.32 kilograms), up from Tk2,500-2,550 two weeks ago and Tk2,100-2,150 a month ago.
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Two weeks ago, white peas were sold in the market at Tk1,400 per maund, which is currently being sold at Tk1,530. A month ago, white peas of the same quality were sold in the market for only Tk1,200.
Meanwhile, the price of mugdal has gone up by around Tk500 per maund. At present, good quality mugdals are being sold in the market at Tk4,400, which was Tk3,900 two weeks ago. The same quality product was being sold at Tk3,000 a month ago.
Besides, the price of imported grams has gone up by around Tk150 in the last two weeks. Two weeks ago, Australian gram was sold at Tk2,400 per maund, which is being sold at Tk2,550 at present.
Md Solaiman Badsha, the proprietor of Tayyabiya Traders, a wholesale pulse trader in Khatunganj, said the price of a product increases when it is traded in several phases, which is known as local trading.
He also claimed that importers and big wholesalers were manipulating the price.
However, Payal Traders Proprietor Ashutosh Mahajan, an importer of pulses, said the booking price of all pulses in the international market has gone up. Besides, the import and supply of goods have decreased in the market due to the lockdown along with the depreciation of the taka against the US dollar.
Sanjay Dev Khokon, president of the Chattogram Pulses Mill Businessmen's Association, also said prices of almost every product in the market, including pulses, are on the rise due to the price hike in the international market.
Besides, the prices of commodities have gone up abnormally due to local trading of goods and manipulation of importers, he added.
