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The market has struggled with a supply shortage of cooking oil since December
Published : 07 Mar 2025, 10:15 PM
The supply of bottled soyabean oil in the market has increased after nearly three months of scarcity.
However, market distributors are also offering other products alongside the cooking oil.
The prices of essential items like chickpeas, onions, and ginger have decreased during the month of Ramadan.
While some prices have risen, vegetable prices remain largely stable.
A visit to Dhaka's Mohakhali and Sattola kitchen markets on Friday revealed that bottled soyabean oil is now available in nearly every store.
Sellers have neatly arranged the oil on shelves both inside and outside their shops.
They said they have no objection to purchasing other products along with the cooking oil.
Al Amin, a seller at Masuma General Store in Mohakhali kitchen market, told bdnews24.com: “[On Friday], we’ve received 10 cartons of soyabean oil.
“We have all sizes, from one-litre to two-litre bottles. Other shops in the area also have oil.”
“We have received soyabean oil from City Group’s ‘Teer’ brand, but sometimes other brands like ‘Rupchanda’ arrive.”
“Although this time, we had to take a sack of salt along with the oil. But salt is always in demand, so it’s not an issue.”
Zahidul Islam Jihad, a vendor at the Ismail Store, told bdnews24.com: “I’ve received several cartons of oil. I’ve displayed them as well.”
“In the past few weeks, there hasn't been enough oil to display."
Earlier, after inspecting the Mohammadpur Town Hall kitchen market on Monday afternoon, Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin remarked that the soyabean oil supply shortage would be resolved within the next two days.
The edible oil shortage in the country began in December 2024.
At that time, the supply shortage in the market led the government to raise prices.
Despite this, the situation showed little improvement.
As prices rose, bottled soyabean oil began disappearing from the market, forcing consumers to purchase loose oil at higher prices.
Before Ramadan, rumours circulated that distributor companies were planning another price hike.
Although there has not been a noticeable change in the situation in recent days, Friday’s market conditions showed a significant improvement in the supply of oil compared with the past few weeks.
Md Asaduzzaman, a private sector employee shopping at Sattola kitchen market, told bdnews24.com: “Over the past few weeks, I had to visit several shops to buy oil. [On Friday], I see a larger quantity available. I didn’t have much trouble buying it this time.”
CHICKPEA, ONION, GINGER PRICES DROP
The prices of essential Ramadan items, including chickpeas, onions and ginger, have seen a decline this year since the beginning of Ramadan.
Among these, chickpea prices have dropped once again.
Prices of spices, such as onions and ginger, have also decreased.
Seller Al Amin said, "The price of chickpeas has gone down further. It is being sold at wholesale rates of Tk 90 to Tk 92 per kg."
He added, "We are selling it at Tk 100 to Tk 102 per kg. At the beginning of Ramadan, we sold it at Tk 110 per kg."
Regarding ginger, he said: "[On Friday], I am selling Chinese ginger at Tk 150 per kg, and local ginger at Tk 140 per kg.”
“Earlier, it was priced between Tk 180 and Tk 200 per kg."
Onions have also seen a price reduction.
While the price was Tk 50 per kg last week, it has now dropped to Tk 35 to Tk 40 per kg.
The price of local garlic has also decreased. Last week, it was sold at Tk 130 per kg, but now it is available at Tk 120 per kg.
In addition, the price of local onions has dropped to Tk 35 per kg, marking a Tk 10 decrease per kg.
Potato prices have remained stable, with potatoes being sold at Tk 20 to Tk 25 per kg.
Red potatoes from Bogura are selling at Tk 35 per kg.
