Vegetable prices stay stubbornly high, hilsa makes festive comeback

Hilsa supply brings a timely dip ahead of Durga Puja

Shoppers in Dhaka’s kitchen markets are still grappling with steep vegetable prices, with most staples selling at Tk 80 or more per kg. Only a handful, like papaya, pumpkin, and bottle gourd, offer some relief.

A visit to Mohakhali and Sat Tola kitchen markets on Friday showed that prices of almost all vegetables, except a few such as papaya and pumpkin, have stayed elevated.

Summer vegetables like teasel gourd, ridge gourd, taro stems, pointed gourd, snake gourd, sponge gourd and okra are being sold at Tk 80 per kg. Bitter gourd, yardlong beans and aubergine bitter gourd stretch past Tk 100, up to Tk 110 per kg, depending on variety.

Although winter is still some way off, a few seasonal vegetables have already entered the market. Hyacinth beans were seen selling at an eye-watering Tk 180 to 250 per kg, depending on quality.

Rashedul Islam Sagor, a private service holder shopping at Sat Tola market, told bdnews24.com: “I was eager to buy hyacinth beans, but when I heard the price, I stepped back just as quickly. Prices of most vegetables have been high for months.”

Bottle gourds are being sold at Tk 50 to 80 each, radishes at Tk 80 per kg, while small cauliflowers are available in some shops at Tk 40 to 60 each.

Depending on quality, ripe tomatoes cost Tk 140 to 160 per kg, green chillies Tk 160 to 200, carrots Tk 120 to 140, local cucumbers Tk 80 to 90, and hybrid cucumbers Tk 60 per kg.

A set of four lemons is selling at Tk 15 to 30, while coriander leaves are priced at Tk 330 to 350 per kg.

Among cheaper vegetables, green bananas cost Tk 40 for four, ash gourd Tk 50 to 60 each, and pumpkin Tk 40 to 50 per kg.

Among leafy greens, red amaranth is selling at Tk 20 per bunch, bottle gourd leaves Tk 40, water spinach two bunches at Tk 20, Malabar spinach Tk 40, and stem amaranth two bunches at Tk 40.

Napa greens and fiddlehead fern are priced at Tk 30 to 40 per bunch.

Mohakhali vegetable trader Md Osman said: “Prices will remain like this for a few more days. Winter vegetables are gradually arriving in the market, and then rates will start to fall.”

Meanwhile, potatoes are still selling for cheap at Tk 20 to 25 per kg, while local onions have dropped by Tk 5 to Tk 70-75 per kg. Local ginger prices have also fallen by Tk 50-60 to Tk 120-140 per kg.

HILSA PRICES FALL AS SUPPLIES INCREASE

The supply of hilsa has risen, bringing down prices compared with last week.

Large hilsa weighing 1 kg are selling at Tk 2,000-2,100 per kg, down by Tk 200-300. Medium-sized hilsa weighing 700-800 grams are selling at Tk 1,700-1,800, down by Tk 100.

Fish weighing just over 500 grams are priced at Tk 1,000-1,300, while hilsa of 300-400 grams are selling at Tk 750-900. Smaller ones have fallen by Tk 100 to Tk 550-650 per kg.

Md Jahangir, a fish trader at Sat Tola market, said: “Hilsa supply increases a little before Puja. That’s why prices drop slightly compared with the days just before the festival. But smaller hilsa are more abundant than the bigger ones.”

Riazul Islam, a customer buying fish, said: “We don’t usually buy hilsa because of the high prices. Today I saw some smaller ones going a bit cheaper, so I bought them. But it’s clear from their condition that they’ve been kept on ice for a long time. Still, I’ll be able to taste hilsa, that’s why I took some.”