Prices of several vegetables have started to fall in the capital’s markets as the supply of early winter vegetables rises. With more beans, cauliflower, cabbage and radish in the markets, shoppers are getting some relief. A few vegetables such as tomatoes, green chillies, carrots and round aubergines are still expensive, however. The fish and meat markets have barely changed, with most items selling at last week’s prices.
That was the picture at several markets in the Mohammadpur and Uttara areas of the capital on Friday (6 November).
With winter vegetables arriving, flat beans are selling at Tk 50 to 60 a kilo. Cauliflower costs Tk 30 to 40 a piece depending on size, and cabbage sells at the same price. Radish costs Tk 30 to 40 a kilo. Sponge gourd, ridge gourd and yam sell at Tk 50 a kilo. Some vegetables are still quite dear: tomatoes sell at Tk 100 a kilo and green chillies at Tk 60 to 80. Carrots cost Tk 120. Round aubergines are Tk 80 a kilo, while other varieties sell at Tk 40 to 50.
Local cucumbers sell at Tk 40 a kilo and hybrid cucumbers at Tk 30. Okra and taro sell at Tk 30 to 40, and yardlong beans, bitter gourd and spiny gourd at Tk 40 to 60 a kilo. Bottle gourd sells at Tk 20 to 30 a piece. Papaya is Tk 20, pumpkin Tk 30 and potatoes Tk 25 to 30 a kilo.
Traders say the supply of winter vegetables has risen a great deal, which has brought down the prices of several of them. Prices may fall further if supply grows in the coming days.
One trader said prices had come down since winter vegetables started arriving, but not all winter vegetables are in the market yet. He expects prices to fall further as supply increases.
While vegetables offer some relief, there is no good news for shoppers at the fish market. Most fish sell at close to last week’s prices. Rui costs Tk 280 to 380 a kilo, large tilapia Tk 180 to 200, silver carp and grass carp Tk 180 to 200, and pangas Tk 160 to 250.
Catla costs Tk 350 to 380 a kilo, farmed koi Tk 200 to 220 and pabda Tk 320 to 400. Hilsa remains beyond the reach of ordinary shoppers, selling at Tk 800 to 2,300 a kilo depending on size and quality. In some places large hilsa fetch as much as Tk 2,600.
The meat market has not changed much either. Broiler chicken sells at Tk 170 to 180 a kilo and Sonali chicken at Tk 240 to 330. Beef costs Tk 800 to 850 a kilo and mutton Tk 1,200 to 1,250. There has been no notable change in these prices from last week.
The latest market data from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) also shows a mixed picture for essentials. Its retail price report of 5 November says local onions, green chillies, aubergines, farm eggs, chickpeas, aromatic polao rice and imported ginger became cheaper over the week.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report