The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The prices of most of the essential items are showing a downtrend in the city kitchen markets yesterday.

On the second week of Ramzan, the prices of rice, onion, soybean and some vegetables are showing downtrend in comparison with the last week prices.

But the price of beef, mutton, fishes and chicken meat have remained high as in the last week.

"As the new winter vegetables are started arriving, so the prices of those are reducing gradually in the city kitchen markets," said traders.

"There is a little possibility of further price hike of essential commodities during the month of Ramzan," said an influential trader at Karwan Bazar yesterday.

Customers in the city markets said they are a little bit happy over the downtrend of vegetables and some other essential commodities.

"Public and private initiatives as well as the ongoing efforts by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) with the wholesalers and retailers for containing the prices of essentials to a tolerable level have started proving efficacious," said markets experts.

They said that the price stability in the markets was dependent on the smooth supply of commodities and mass awareness and cooperation at all levels.

If such initiatives went on throughout the year then the prices of essentials must come down to a tolerable level, they added.

They, however, opined that without the assistance of law enforcing agencies the prices of essentials commodities could be kept reasonable.

The prices of essentials will come down within a short time if we carry out our efforts continuously," said FBCCI President Annisul Huq.

Coarse variety of rice was sold between Tk 31 and Tk 32 per kg which was Tk 33 to Tk 34 in the last few weeks. Minicate was sold between Tk 39 and Tk 44 and Nazirshail was Tk 37 to Tk 42.

Soybean was sold at between Tk 106 and Tk 108 per kg, which was Tk 110 to Tk 112 in the last week. Super soybean was sold between Tk 90 and Tk 92 which was Tk 100 and palm oil between Tk 73 and Tk 78 per kg which was Tk 82 to Tk 86 in the last week.

Local variety of onion was sold between Tk 30 and Tk 32 and imported one at Tk 24 to Tk 25 per kg. Green Chilli was sold Tk 50 and Tk 60, aubergine between Tk 35 and Tk 40 and papaya between Tk 10 and Tk 12.

Beef was sold between Tk 190 and Tk 210, mutton Tk 250 and Tk 280 and broiler chicken Tk 110 and Tk 120 per kg. Ruhi fish was sold between Tk 160 and Tk 180 per kg and a medium size of hilsha fish was sold between Tk 280 and Tk 300 yesterday.