Shoppers frustrated as steep vegetable prices in Dhaka eat into budgets

Vendors blame seasonal changes and flooding for short supplies

After Friday prayers, private sector employee Mobarak Hossain went to the Sat Tola kitchen market in Mohakhali to buy vegetables. But the prices left him disheartened, and he ended up buying less than usual did.

He said, “Every vegetable is Tk 80 to 100 per kg. I deliberately bought just half a kg of each. It feels bad. Prices should have come down by now. I understood the hikes during the rains, but what’s the problem now?”

A visit to the Mohakhali and Sat Tola wet markets on Friday showed that while the prices of a few vegetables had dipped slightly, most are still selling at elevated rates like in previous weeks.

Vendors gave different explanations for the steep prices. Some pointed to a seasonal gap between summer and winter vegetables, leading to lower supplies.

Others blamed recent heavy rains and flooding in parts of northern Bangladesh for damaging fields.

Whatever the reason, buyers were visibly unhappy.

For over a month, most vegetables have been selling at Tk 80 to 100 per kg or higher, aside from potatoes, pumpkins and green papaya.

In Mohakhali, slender eggplants were going for Tk 100-120 a kg, while round ones cost Tk 120-140. Bitter gourd and okra were Tk 100-120, yardlong beans Tk 120, pointed gourd Tk 80-100, sponge gourd Tk 80, snake gourd Tk 70-80, and taro stem Tk 80-100.

Ridge gourd was selling at Tk 70-80, papaya at Tk 25-30, while green chilli prices ranged between Tk 200-250 depending on variety.

Among winter vegetables, bottle gourd cost Tk 50-80 apiece, tomatoes Tk 140-150 a kg, carrots Tk 80-120, local cucumber Tk 100, and hybrid cucumber Tk 80.

A four-piece set of medium-sized lemons was Tk 20, while larger ones were Tk 50. A four-piece bunch of bananas was Tk 50.

Ash gourds ranged from Tk 50-80 each, and coriander leaves were Tk 400 a kg.

Other items included teasel gourd at Tk 80-100, radish at Tk 60, and pumpkin at Tk 30 per kg. Potatoes were steady at Tk 20-25.

Shopper Redwan Ahmed was at Mohakhali market. He told bdnews24.com, “Vegetables used to be cheaper before. Now prices are up, so I’m buying less. I went for yardlong beans, but when I heard the price, I took just half a kg because my daughter likes it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bought it.”