The New Nation - Internet Edition

Talha Bin Habib

The prices of the essential items including rice, soybean oil and lentil continue to maintain a high trend in different kitchen markets of the city.

The price of soybean oil jumped by Tk 10 to Tk 12 per kg yesterday. The other necessary items have also shown an upward trend.

The high prices of essentials items have hit hard the people of low and middle-income groups.

Some of the consumers of these two groups said skyrocketing prices of everyday necessities have put a heavy strain on their limited budget.

"We are unable of to maintain our monthly family expenditure as the prices of essential commodities are going up by leaps and bound.' said a second class government employee of Bangladesh Secretariat at Kawran Bazar yesterday.

We are already reeling under high prices of daily necessities including rice and other items, said some other consumers

They said if this trend goes on unabated they might not be able to maintain a decent life with their family members.

They called upon the government to check the volatile market situation immediately.

Abus Salam, a rickshaw puller, said he earns Tk 150 to Tk 200 per day.

"But with this meagre amount I can ill afford to support my four-member family," he noted.

"In the past, I used to save a small amount of money even after meeting my family's monthly expenditures. But in recent days it is no longer possible for me to do that," he said with a voice of anguish and despair.

As per market survey yesterday the coarse variety of rice 'lata' was sold at Tk 33 to Tk 34 yesterday which was Tk 32 to Tk 33, 'minicate' between Tk 42 and Tk 44 which was Tk 38 to Tk 40 , 'nazirshail' (depending on variety) from Tk 42 to Tk 44 which was Tk 40 to Tk 42, BR-28 at Tk 36 to Tk 37 which was Tk 35 and BR-29 at Tk 37 to Tk 38 which was Tk 36 and 'sarna' Tk 36 and Tk 38 which was Tk 34 to Tk 36 per kg in the retail markets.

Rice traders in the city markets said high transport fare due to fuel price hike has pushed up the price of rice. They also said that the current rainfalls have also been hampering rice production in the mills and hindering smooth supply of rice to the city markets.

They, however, hoped that the prices of rice might be come down to a tolerable level once the mills resume smooth production of rice.

Per kg of soyabean oil was sold at Tk 122 to Tk 124 yesterday, which was at Tk 112 to Tk 114 per kg in the last week, and palm oil was sold at from Tk 110 to Tk 112, which was Tk 106 and Tk 108 per kg. Five litre canned of different brands of soybean oil was sold at Tk 610 which was Tk 560 to Tk 565.

Retailers at Moulvi Bazar said short supply of soybean oil from the mills coupled with its high price in international markets contributed to its high price in the local markets.

They said that the price of soybean might come down if the government reduced 15 per cent value added tax (VAT).

A member of Bangladesh Wholesale Edible Oil Businessmen Organisation, however, said that there is no possibility of coming down the prices of soybean to a tolerable level in a near future of its high price in the international markets.

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

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

The price of different types of fish still remain high as Ruhi was selling from Tk 150 to Tk 180 per kg , 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. And Per hali (4-pieces) of eggs was between Tk 28 and Tk 26 which was 22 and Tk 24.