Kishoreganj Correspondent

The prices of almost all essential commodities witnessed a sharp rise on the kitchen markets in Kishoreganj over the last 10 days. Consumers expressed their anger over the soaring prices of essential commodities and blamed ineffective government monitoring of the market.

The prices of onion , eggs and vegetables increased excessively on the kitchen markets in past one week.

Retailers blamed wholesalers for increasing the price of daily kitchen essentials. Recent rains across the country have had a sharp impact on vegetables prices in the kitchen markets.

The prices of all the vegetables increased abnormally in kitchen markets over the 10 days.

Onion prices have crossed the threshold of tk.100 per kg due to what treaders say is a shortage in the supply of local verities and a decline in imports from neighboring India.

Each kg onion was selling for tk.100 to 120at Kutch markets of Kishoreganj
Aubergine sold for Tk 70-85 a kilogram, papaya for Tk 60 to 65 a kilogram, bitter gourd for Tk 70-80 a kilogram, cucumber for Tk 50–60 a kilogram, carrot for Tk 60–70 a kilogram and gourd for Tk 60–70 a kilogram on Friday.

The price of green chilies almost doubled over the week and the item sold for Tk 200 to 220 a kilogram in on Saturday.

Mohammad Rafiqul , a retired employee said that the recent price hike of vegetables was unacceptable.

He blamed ineffective market monitoring policy for the unusual price hike of essential commodities.

The price of eggs increased by Tk 5 to 7 a hali (four pieces) in past one week and the items sold for Tk 54-56 a hali in the town.

Fazal Miah, a retailer in Kishoreganj 's Bara Bazar said that wholesale businesses were manipulating the prices of eggs.

He said that, a few days ago, the price of eggs decreased across the country and then the businesses stored large quantities of eggs in a number of cold storages.

Now, the wholesalers have been increasing the price of eggs across the country through SMS, Fazal Miah said.

The price of potato also increased on the kitchen markets in Kishoreganj over the week and the item sold for Tk 70 to 75 a per kg. The price of beef also remained high and the item sold for Tk 750 to 800 per kg.