Despite an abundant supply of winter vegetables on the capital’s kitchen markets, prices have remained high on Friday, leaving consumers struggling.  

At some kitchen markets, including Agargaon Taltola Bazar, Kallyanpur Natun Bazar and Karwan Bazar wholesale market, the supply of the major winter vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, beans, turnip, and radish was ample, but were sold at higher prices. 

However, onion prices, the most discussed essential commodity in recent weeks, have seen a slight decline and were sold at Tk 100-110 a kilogram, which were Tk 110-120 a kilogram last week

On Friday, winter vegetables like cauliflower were sold at Tk 50 apiece, cabbage at Tk 40 apiece, beans at Tk 80–120 a kilogram, radish at Tk 30-40 a kilogram, bottle gourd at Tk 40-70 apiece and pumpkins at Tk 80-100 a kilogram.

Traders said that despite improved supplies, prices at source remained unusually high, ultimately spilling over on both wholesale and retail markets.

Idris Ali, a wholesale trader at Karwan Bazar, said that vegetable prices in the producing hubs were still on the higher side, with farmers fetching fair prices for their early winter produce.

‘Continued rainfall till last month led to waterlogging in many fields, damaging crops. Farmers are now trying to recover their losses,’ he said.

On Friday, potatoes were selling at Tk 25-30 a kilogram, a little higher than two weeks ago. However, traders said that potatoes had been selling at low prices for a long period this year, leaving many farmers facing losses.

Despite the slight hike, price of potatoes was still significantly lower than that at the same time last year, when the item sold for Tk 65-75 a kilogram, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the newly harvested potatoes were also available on the market, selling at about Tk 150-170 a kilogram.

Among notable vegetables, the price of green chillies remained unchanged at Tk 100-120 a kilogram on the wholesale market.

On Friday, spiny gourds were sold for Tk 100 a kilogram, pointed gourds and okra for Tk 60-70 a kilogram, yardlong beans Tk 80 a kilogram and bitter gourd Tk 100 a kilogram; mostly remaining the same or were slightly lower than last week. 

Aubergines were selling at Tk 80-120 a kilogram, cucumbers at Tk 80, and tomatoes at Tk 140 a kilogram on the day.

Red chillies were selling at Tk 350-500 a kilogram, depending on variety.

The price of papaya was Tk 30 a kilogram, that of taro runner Tk 50-60, taro stems Tk 60 a kilogram and carrot Tk 80 a kilogram.

As the season is almost at its end, snake gourd, sponge gourd and ridge gourd were selling at slightly higher prices, which was Tk 100 a kilogram on Friday.

Local garlic variant was sold for Tk 120 a kilogram, while its imported variant was sold for Tk 200 a kilogram. Meanwhile, ginger was sold at Tk 130 a kilogram on Friday.

Md Imran Master, president of Bangladesh Kachamal Arat Malik Samity, said that due to prolonged rainfall till October, farmers faced hurdles in producing vegetables.

‘We hope the supply of vegetables on the market will increase and prices will likely fall further throughout the season as winter approaches,’ he said

The price of broiler chicken remained stable at Tk 160-170 a kilogram, while eggs were sold at Tk 120 per dozen.

Sonali chicken was sold at Tk 250-280 a kilogram and the domestic variant at Tk 550-600 a kilogram.

Packaged atta was selling at Tk 62-65 a kilogram and unpackaged atta at Tk 45-50 a kilogram. Meanwhile, packaged maida sold for Tk 75 a kilogram and its unpackaged variant for Tk 65 a kilogram.

The prices of red lentils remained static at Tk 150-155 a kilogram for the fine variant, Tk 125-130 for the medium variant and Tk 100-110 for the coarse variant.

On Friday, the price of Miniket rice ranged from Tk 70 to Tk 80 a kilogram, down slightly, while Paijam or Athash was sold at Tk 60-70 a kilogram and the coarse variant at Tk 55-60 a kilogram.

Packaged soya bean oil was sold at Tk 190 a litre and a five-litre bottle cost Tk 922. In contrast, the prices of unpackaged soya bean oil and palm oil were Tk 176 and Tk 166 a litre respectively.

The price of beef remained at Tk 750-800 a kilogram and mutton at Tk 1,100-1,200 a kilogram on Friday.

Although the 22-day hilsa fishing ban ended at midnight on October 26, the price of the national delicacy still remained out of reach for consumers, selling at about Tk 800-2,000 a kilogram, depending on size.

The prices of fish have remained high over the past few weeks, with Ruhi selling at Tk 300-450 a kilogram, based on size, Katla at Tk 350-450 a kilogram, Shing at Tk 550 a kilogram, Pangash at Tk 180-220 and Tilapia at Tk 150-200 a kilogram.