The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Price of per litre of soybean oil touches Tk 100. It cannot be controlled in any way. The price of soybean oil crossed record Tk 100 per litre in the city's kitchen markets yesterday. Both loose and packet soybean oil is now selling at Tk 100 per litre. Not only the price of soybean oil, but also the prices of rice, lentil, onion, atta, and vegetables have increased in the markets. However, the prices of fish are comparatively low.

Visiting Shantinagar and Segun Bagicha kitchen markets yesterday this correspondent found that loose soybean oil was selling at Tk 95-100. Packet soybean oil was selling at Tk 95 per litre. However, a container of eight litre of soybean oil was selling at Tk 700. Traders said the price of soybean oil is unlikely to go down soon. They said supply is adequate, but the price in international market is high.

Traders said price might go down somewhat if the government withdraws duty on the import of soybean oil.

On the other hand, prices of different varieties of coarse and fine rice have gone up in the markets. Miniket variety of rice which is preferred by upper and middle classes is now selling at Tk 35 a kilogram, while Najirshail is selling at Tk 32 per kg, Parijat at Tk 24 per kg, and Paijam at Tk 25 per kg.

Price of onion is getting dearer day by day. Its price remains static at Tk 60 per kg for two weeks. Atta is selling at Tk 40-45 per kg, which was Tk 26-29 only two months ago. The price of sugar remains static at Tk 32.

Winter vegetables are yet to reach the city's kitchen markets in bigger ways. A cauliflower weighing maximum 150 grams is selling at Tk 20, while potato is selling at Tk 20-24 per kg, tomato at Tk 55-60 per kg, green papaya at Tk 10 per kg, and green chilli at Tk 110 per kg.