The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The prices of 'coarse' and other varieties of rice remained high in the city's kitchen markets.

Prices of soybean and lentil (masur) have abruptly increased further to Tk 2 to Tk 5 and Tk 8 to Tk 10 per kg respectively yesterday causing another matter of concern for the city dwellers on maintaining their monthly expenditure budget.

Customers in the city markets said that they were almost exhausted by the high prices of rice and other essential items.

They said further increase of lentils and soybean prices would definitely create another trouble in maintaining their monthly family budget, as they are already purchasing rice at high prices.

It became a regular 'phenomenon' in the city markets that if the prices of any essential item decreased in one week than prices of another items would be increased in the next week, they resented.

They demanded of the Government to monitor the volatile market situation so none of the businessmen could intentionally increase the prices of essential items.

Retailers in the city markets said they are bound to sell it with high rate since they had purchased those with high prices from the wholesalers.

However, the prices of most vegetable items were selling within the purchasing power of the common people.

In the retail markets per kg of local variety of lentil (masur) was selling from Tk 108 to Tk 110 which yesterday was between Tk 98 and Tk 102 per kg in the last week. Imported lentil was sold at Tk 105 per kg that was Tk 96 per kg in the last week.

In the retail markets, per kg of potato was sold at Tk 16 to Tk 17 and at the wholesale markets it was between Tk 14 and Tk 15 yesterday.

Traders said proper supply of potato from the farmers and cold storages would help reduce the prices of potato further in the markets.

The coarse variety of rice 'lata' was sold at Tk 32 to Tk 33, 'minicate' between Tk 38 and Tk 42, 'nazirshail' (depending on variety) from Tk 40 to Tk 44, BR-28 at Tk 35 to Tk 36 and BR-29 at Tk 35 to Tk 36 and 'sarna' Tk 34 and Tk 35 per kg yesterday in the retail markets.

Per kg of soyabean oil was sold at Tk 114 to Tk 115 yesterday, which was at Tk 110 to Tk 112 per kg in the last week, and palm oil was sold from 106 to Tk 108 yesterday. Different brands of five litre-canned soyabean oil were selling between Tk 564 and Tk 565.

Per packet of 2 kg ata was sold at Tk 75 yesterday, which was Tk 8o and Tk 82 in the last week. Sugar was at Tk 35 and Tk 36 per kg. Per hali (4-pieces) of eggs was between Tk 22 and Tk 24.

The price of chicken was Tk 120 to Tk 125 per kg. Green chilli from Tk 10 to Tk 15 per kg, cucumber Tk 14 to Tk 16 , korola at Tk 16 to Tk 20, tomato at Tk 30 to Tk 32 and barbati Tk 16 to Tk 18.

The price of different types of fish still remain high as Ruhi was selling from Tk 150 to Tk 180, medium size Hilsha from Tk 280 to Tk 350. Prices of beef was at Tk 190 to Tk 200, while mutton from Tk 260 to Tk 280 per kg.