Chattogram: Prices of vegetables are decreasing gradually as supply has increased in different kitchen markets in the city and different upazilas of the district. Traders hoped that vegetable prices will decrease significantly this week. However, the prices of broiler chicken, beef, and mutton have increased slightly over the past week.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the supply of vegetables to Chattogram had decreased due to the Eid-ul-Adha holidays and subsequent incessant rains. However, with no rain in the last seven days, the supply has almost returned to normal. Trucks and pickup vans carrying various types of vegetables were seen entering the warehouse of Riazuddin Bazar in the city. This observation was made during visits to various raw markets, including Riazuddin Bazar, on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.
Nurul Islam, a godown owner at Riazuddin Bazar, stated that vegetables from outside could not arrive due to the Eid holidays and rains. “Now that the supply has returned to normal in the raw market of the port city of Chattogram, prices of vegetables have started to fall. The supply of vegetables has increased and prices are coming down,” he added.
Shop owner Shibli Faruk explained that the monsoon had resulted in increased rainfall right after Eid, causing water to enter vegetable fields and destroy crops in many areas, leading to a decreased supply and increased prices in the wholesale market. “Now that the rains have stopped, the supply is somewhat normal again,” he observed. He also mentioned that the impact of the price reduction would be seen in the retail market.
In Bahaddarhat Kacha Bazar, chicken shopkeeper Solaiman Badsha noted a slight decrease in the price of Sonali and other chickens. Retailers in Bahaddarhat, Battery Goli, Kazir Deuri, and Chawkbazar reported stable prices for fish and almost all groceries. They provided detailed pricing for various vegetables, with brinjal selling at Tk 60 to 70 per kg, white round brinjal at Tk 50, and other vegetables like cucumber, bitter gourd, and papaya showing similar pricing trends.
Tomatoes are being sold at Tk 160 per kg, while potatoes from Munshiganj and red potatoes from Bogra are priced at Tk 20 to 25 and Tk 30 to 35, respectively.