Staff Correspondent

People, especially middle class and lower middle class, express cheers in their Eid preparation as they are finding some comfort due to cheaper essentials, making their Eid shopping better than before.

Compared to previous years, this Ramadan, people are getting most of the essentials, particularly the kitchen and grocery items, at cheaper and affordable prices.

Talking to BSS, Tareq Aziz, a private service holder, thanked the government, saying this year he is doing Eid shopping as per his expectation because of cheaper Ramadan essentials.

"Earlier, due to Ramadan expenditure, after purchasing for my family members, it was difficult to buy something for me. But this year, the scenario has changed. This year's expenditure is lower than my budget for Ramadan. So, I am planning to buy something for me too," he added.

Md Shah Alam, a businessman, came to Bashundhara City Shopping Complex and purchased Eid dresses for his family members, including two sons, one daughter, wife and his elderly parents.

He said, "I expect this Eid will bring happiness for all of my family members as they are getting gifts as per their expectation. I want to give thanks to the government for their all-out efforts to keep the prices of essentials at a tolerable level."

In a recent interview, Commerce Adviser SK Bashir Uddin said the incumbent government liberalised the supply side through trade measures, tariff adjustments, beefing up market monitoring with the concerned efforts from the Ministry of Finance, DNCRP and CAB.

So, he said, comfort has been restored among the consumers amid normal prices of commodities and its smooth supply chain.

Visiting several key kitchen markets, including Karwan Bazar, Khilgaon Taltola Market, Khilgaon Bowbazar and Rampura Bazar here this morning, the BSS correspondent found that buyers are generally able to get what they need according to their purchasing power.

Due to strict market supervision and monitoring by the government's several agencies and different measures, most of the essentials including sugar, grass peas, date, onion, cucumber, potato, tomato, egg, garlic, green and dry chillies, ginger, and isabgol, are available at cheaper prices compared to Ramadan in 2024.

Lauding the government's several measures, Rasheduzzaman, a resident of the Rampura area, said the prices of most grocery items are satisfactory as supply is abundant.

"This year, everyone is relieved as the prices of vegetables in this Ramadan are low compared to the past few years. The prices of fish, meat and chicken are stable," he added.

During the visit to the city's several markets, it was found that farm chicken is being sold at Tk 180-190 per kg, Sonali at Tk 280-290 per kg and local chicken at Tk 550-580 per kg, respectively-Tk 10-30 per kg lower than last year.

Mutton (Khasi) is being sold at around TK 1100 per kg and beef at Tk 750-850 per kg. The prices are also Tk 30-50 lower than the previous year.

Local rui fish (1.5 to 2 kg live) is being sold at Tk 300-450 while imported rui (2 to 3 kg) at Tk 300-350.

Arju Miah, a fish trader at Rampura Bazar, said that the supply of fish in the market is normal. However, the demand for fish has increased with the arrival of Ramadan, he added.

On the other hand, sugar is being sold at Tk 115-120 per kg, down from Tk 140-150 last year.

The price of normal dates has fallen to Tk 180-200 per kg from Tk220-250, while mid-range and premium quality dates are being sold at Tk 450-800 and Tk 1,000-1,800, respectively-Tk 30-200 per kg lower than last year.

Local onion is available at Tk 35-45 per kg, significantly lower than last year's Tk 100-120.

Potato is being sold at Tk 20-25 per kg, compared to Tk 25-35 last year.

Additionally, winter vegetable prices have decreased by Tk 5-20 per kg compared to last Ramadan.

Mohon, a chicken seller in Khilgaon Bowbazar, said, the price is lower than the previous year due to the government's monitoring activities.

"Big syndicates control the chicken business. Those who produce day-old chicks and chicken feed controlled the market. If the government controls the syndicates, there is an opportunity to reduce more the prices of chicken," he added.