Cold wave takes bite out of well-stocked Dhaka kitchen markets

Buyers refuse to brave the weather, casting a damper on grocery shopping

Sales at Dhaka’s kitchen markets are declining amid the cold wave, despite adequate supply.

Visits to the kitchen markets in Motijheel, Segunbagicha and Jatrabari show fewer buyers over the past few days.

A cold wave has been sweeping across several parts of the country for days. On Thursday, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported cold wave conditions in 17 districts.

Amid the foggy conditions, most people stayed indoors on the weekly holiday of Friday, unless there was an urgent need to go out, affecting sales at Dhaka’s kitchen markets.

At Segunbagicha, a buyer named Rafikul Islam told bdnews24.com: “I would not have come to the market at all. I get only one day off, and I did not want to go out in the cold, despite repeated requests from my wife. I told her to cook whatever was available at home.”

“When I went out for the Jummah prayers, she asked me to buy green chilli and cucumber. I bought just these two items and am heading straight home.”

While prices of most vegetables are on a downward trend, the situation is the opposite for cucumbers and green chillies. In Segunbagicha, the price of cucumbers rose from Tk 40 to Tk 90 per kg within a single day.

Mohammad Rafe, who has been selling vegetables at the market for around seven years, said: “Supplies of green chilli and cucumber have declined. Prices of these items are always slightly higher on Fridays, but today they have more than doubled.”

“Just yesterday I was selling cucumbers at Tk 40 per kg, today I am selling them at Tk 90. Many vendors were charging even Tk 100 in the morning.”

In Jatrabari, different varieties of hyacinth beans are selling at Tk 30 to Tk 80 per kg. Seeded hyacinth beans are priced at Tk 80 per kg, Naldanga hyacinth beans at Tk 50, and seedless hyacinth beans at Tk 30 per kg.

New potatoes are selling at Tk 25 to Tk 30 per kg. About a month ago, the same potatoes were priced between Tk 100 and Tk 150 per kg.

TOMATO PRICES FLUCTUATE

Local tomatoes, which rose to Tk 120 per kg at the start of the season, fell to Tk 70-80 last week and climbed to Tk 100 again on Friday.

In Segunbagicha, green chillies are selling at Tk 120 per kg, up from Tk 60-70 two days ago.

Large round aubergines are priced at Tk 50-60 per kg, while long aubergines are selling at Tk 30-40 per kg.

At Motijheel Colony Market, cauliflower is selling at Tk 20 per piece, and spring onions at Tk 20 per bunch.

In Segunbagicha, turnips are priced at Tk 40 per kg and radishes at Tk 30 per kg.

FISH PRICES UNCHANGED

Fish prices remain stable. At Segunbagicha kitchen market, medium-sized rohu is selling at Tk 300-310 per kg, unchanged from last week. Tilapia remains steady at Tk 210-220 per kg, while pangas is selling at Tk 180-200 per kg.

At Dhaka’s kitchen markets, beef is selling at Tk 750 per kg. Broiler chicken has been priced at Tk 160-170 per kg for several weeks.

Eggs are selling at Tk 120 per dozen at Segunbagicha, while in Jatrabari they are priced at Tk 110 per dozen.