Essentials’ prices up in Khulna kitchen markets

Within a span of one week after Eid-ul-Azha, prices of all essentials including vegetables, fish and meats have shot up in Khulna kitchen markets, leaving low and mid-income people in trouble.

Pre-planned family budget aren’t working effectively while the market controlling authorities and the district administration seem unable to take effective action, said consumers.

Visiting Khulna’s several kitchen markets including Natunbazar, Doulatpur Bazar, Gallamari Bazar, Sheikpara Bazar and Mistripara Bazar, there have been found abnormal hike in prices of fish, meat and vegetables and lack of customers in the markets.

Blaming rains for the price hikes, Doulatpur Bazar’s trader Rahman Sheikh said green chilies, which was sold for Tk 200 per kg before Eid, are now selling at Tk 300 per kg, an increase by Tk 100 per kg.

Eggplant costs Tk 100-120 per kg, pointed gourd at Tk 70 per kg, potatoes at Tk 70 per kg, onions at Tk 100, garlic at Tk 240-300, okra at Tk 60, bitter gourd at Tk 80, ginger at Tk 300 per kg and spinach at Tk 30, he said.

Matlub Miah, a meat trader in Farazipara, said that per kg of beef is being sold at Tk 800 while mutton at 1,100 per kg.

Each kg of broiler chicken costs Tk 200-210, Sonali chicken at Tk 320, local chicken at Tk 550, Pekin duck at Tk 380 and Muscovy duck at Tk 550 per kg, he said.

Farzana, a consumer at Gallamari Bazar, said, "I work at a private firm. It's becoming increasingly difficult to manage the household expenses with my salary."

She said small prawn costs at Tk 800 per kg, small rui fish Tk 400, and hilsa between Tk 1,500 to 2,800 per kg, depending on the variety, she added.

The prices of all types of rice and flour have also increased by Tk 2-3 per kg. Four eggs now cost Tk 60.

Expressing frustration, another consumer Abdullah Abu Naser said he wandered around the market but couldn’t afford to buy anything.
There are no measures in place to control the market prices, he alleged.