Price-hike of winter vegetables frustrates consumers in Ctg
Md. Tanzim Hossain, Chattogram City
Despite the arrival of winter vegetables bringing vibrancy to the markets, a surge in prices has left consumers worried. Over the past week, prices of cauliflower, cabbage, eggplant, papaya, long beans, and bitter gourd have increased by Tk 10 to Tk 50 per kilogram.
A visit to Chattogram's Bahaddarhat, Chawkbazar, Oxygen, and Rastar Matha markets revealed that cauliflower is now selling at Tk 120, eggplant at Tk 100, long beans at Tk 70, hyacinth beans at Tk 120, bitter gourd at Tk 100, and papaya at Tk 40 per kilogram.
Other vegetables such as potatoes are priced at Tk 70, bottle gourd at Tk 40, pumpkin at Tk 60, carrots at Tk 160, and capsicum between Tk 300 and Tk 700 per kilogram. Additionally, onions are being sold at Tk 120, garlic at Tk 210, and ginger at Tk 280 per kilogram.
The meat market offers little relief either. Prices of local chicken have increased by Tk 30, now selling at Tk 570 per kilogram. Broiler chicken is priced at Tk 180, while beef ranges between Tk 750 and Tk 900 per kilogram. In the fish market, poa fish is priced at Tk 300, pabda at Tk 400, roopchanda at Tk 600, and rui between Tk 350 and Tk 400 per kilogram.
Consumers have expressed frustration over the price hike. According to them, winter vegetable prices were expected to drop but have instead risen sharply.
Traders attribute the situation to supply shortages and rising transportation costs. Meanwhile, consumers and advocates are calling for stricter market monitoring to stabilize prices.
