Ginger dearer by Tk 100 in Chittagong

Ginger prices in Chittagong have gone up by Tk 100 a kg within a week to Tk 300-350 per kg on different varieties a day before Eid-ul-Azha.

Traders attribute this sharp rise to heightened demand, supply shortfall, and manipulation by wholesalers.

File Photo

The prices of garlic, tomatoes, cucumber, dry chillies and onions, too, have shot up.

Vendors at Riaz Uddin Market said ginger had sold at Tk 180-200 at kg last week but prices soared to Tk 300 from Saturday.

A wholesaler at Riaz Uddin Bazar told bdnews24.com on the condition of anonymity that ginger was being hoarded for some time to be sold at a high price before Eid.

“It is having its impact on retail prices.”

Another trader, Md Zahed, said they were buying ginger at a premium from wholesalers, who were citing inadequate supply for the price rise.

“Garlic price, too, has risen by Tk 10 to Tk 70-75 a kg."

Zahed said onion was selling at anything between Tk 30 and Tk 40 a kg. Last week, it sold for a maximum of Tk 32 a kg.

Local dry chilli sold at Tk 170 a kg on Sunday, while it had sold for Tk 130 a kg last week.

Cucumber has soared from Tk 15 per kg last week to Tk 60 on Sunday. Tomatoes are up from last week’s Tk 80 a kg to Tk 160.

Md Mostafa, a Riaz Uddin Bazar vegetable seller, said most transport vehicles were currently busy carrying cattle, so there were not many to bring vegetables to the market.