The New Nation - Internet Edition

Talha Bin Habib

As Eid-ul- Fitr, the biggest festival of Muslims is only couple of days away; the prices of beef, pasteurised milk, ginger and different kinds of vermicelli have increased in the city market.

Customers alleged that a section of dishonest traders have increased the prices of beef to Tk 220 per kg as against Tk 190 to 200 fixed by the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC).

They apprehended that the price of beef might jump to Tk 240 to Tk 250 per kg before Eid as the price fixation of DCC would expire from day after tomorrow (Monday).

"Had the DCC fixed the beef price for the whole month of Ramzan instead of 27 th, then the meat sellers would have been bound to sell it with that fixed price before the day of Eid," customers said.

They alleged that most of the beef sellers are selling beef of imported cows in the name of local cows. They called upon the concerned department to look into the matter.

"It is not possible for me to make a difference between the beef of local and foreign varieties," Abdur Rashid , a private service holder said yesterday at Malibagh Bazar.

The DCC orders beef sellers to hang price chart of beef of local quality at Tk 200 and imported at Tk 190 per kg.

Admitting the beef price hike by sellers, a concerned person of the DCC said this year the DCC has fixed the date to sale the beef price upto 27th of Ramzan which was 26th in the last year Ramzan.

He said unavailability of cows against the growing demand is a big factor for beef price hike.

"As the demand of beef is usually increased during the Eid festival so the price of it usually gone high," said a beef seller on condition of anonymity at Fakirapool Baszar.

They, however, said that the price of beef would come down to a tolerable level after the Eid festival.

The local quality of loose type of vermicelli was sold between Tk 70 to 75 per kg yesterday in the retail markets.

Other types of packed vermicelli's have also increased Tk 2 to 3 per kg depending on their weight.

Wholesalers at Moulvi Bazar said the high prices of raw materials forced them to increase the price of vermicelli.

Pasteurised milk, one of the vital components for preparing delicacies of Eid menu have also increased. One litre Milk Vita, Pran and Arong brands were selling at Tk 47 that was Tk 45 in the last few weeks.

Consumers alleged that traders at different shops in the city have started to stocking pasteurised milk for selling at Tk 50 and even Tk 55 per litre before the day of Eid.

Soybean was sold at between Tk 105 and Tk 106 per kg yesterday as against Tk 108 to Tk 110 over the past few weeks. One kg of super soybean cost Tk 75, which was Tk 80 a few days ago. Palm oil was sold between Tk 70 and 72 per kg that was Tk 75 last week.

Coarse variety of rice was sold between Tk 32 and Tk 33, minicate was sold between Tk 39 and Tk 44 and Nazirshail was Tk 40 Tk 46 per kg.

Local variety of onion was sold between Tk 32 and Tk 34 and imported one at Tk 22 to Tk 24 per kg. Local variety of garlic was at Tk 100 and imported at Tk 35 and ginger of local quality at Tk 100 and imported ones at Tk 65 per kg. Green Chilli was sold Tk 40 and Tk 50, aubergine between Tk 35 and Tk 40 and papaya between Tk 10 and Tk 12.