Ordinary people are reeling from the unbearable surge in daily essential prices. The unchecked spiral of rising costs shows no sign of slowing, while stagnant incomes have turned survival into a daily struggle. Trying to manage one expense only creates strain in another, leaving households under relentless pressure.
The situation is almost suffocating. While the middle class, out of shame, says little, the condition of the lower-income groups is even more miserable. They are literally struggling in the battle of life.
Data shows that within the last two months, the prices of local onions, lentils, chicken eggs, Sonali chickens, fish, and several vegetables have increased by up to 87 percent at the retail level.
In such a situation, the helpless gaze of people is evident as soon as one goes to the market. Ordinary people cannot understand what they should actually do. Retailers say one thing, wholesalers say another. No one listens to the voice of buyers.
There is also no clear answer as to why the prices of essentials keep increasing continuously.
People involved in the market say that due to the rise in essential prices, consumers have become almost helpless. Behind this price hike are trader syndicates, lack of market monitoring, weaknesses in the supply system, and imbalance between income and expenditure. Traders selling products at excessive prices have limited the purchasing power of ordinary people.
Experts say that unless supply management and market control are strengthened, the rising prices will put even more pressure on the lives of ordinary people.
A review of prices in different retail markets of the capital and the government marketing agency TCB on September 4 and July 3 shows that within two months:
The price of local onions has increased by 33 to 36 percent per kg, now selling at Tk 75–80.
The price of farm eggs has increased by up to 17 percent per dozen, now Tk 140–145.
Due to the huge demand for Sonali chicken in the market as an alternative to local chicken, its price always remains high. The price of Sonali chicken has increased by 7 percent per kg, selling at Tk 300–320 depending on quality.
The price of local lentils has also increased by up to 14 percent per kg, now selling at Tk 160.
The price of medium-sized (2 to 2.5 kg) rui fish has increased by 12 to 14 percent per kg, selling at Tk 400–450.
The price of eggplant has increased by 33 to 60 percent per kg, selling at Tk 100–160 depending on quality and variety. A few days ago, the price had even gone up to Tk 200.
The ripe tomatoes currently being sold in the market are mostly imported from India. Within two months, tomato prices have increased by 60 to 87 percent per kg, now Tk 150–160.
The price of bitter gourd has increased by 29 to 33 percent per kg, now Tk 100–120.
The price of yardlong beans has increased by 43 to 50 percent per kg, now Tk 100–120.
Besides, most other vegetables are not selling below Tk 80.
At present, the cheapest vegetables in the market are papaya and potatoes. These two are available at Tk 35–40 and Tk 25–30 per kg respectively.
At Mohakhali kitchen market in the capital, buyer Helal Uddin said: “The government has no monitoring in the market, which is why this turmoil continues. Nothing in the market is now within the reach of ordinary people. Sellers keep raising prices with various excuses. Income and expenses cannot be balanced. People with limited income are forced to take loans every month. Even if I want, I can no longer buy my favorite fish. The price of small fish is even higher. One kg of small shrimp is being sold for Tk 800–900. To buy fish and meat, one has to take several thousand taka to the market. The government should monitor the market and find out why prices are rising.”
At Joar Sahara market in the capital, vegetable seller Md Rabiul Islam said: “Because of high vegetable prices, vegetable sales in the market have decreased compared to before. As a result, we are now facing losses. Mainly, due to continuous rainfall in recent months, farmers’ vegetable fields have been severely damaged, which has reduced supply in the market.”
Traders have said that alongside vegetables, shortages of eggs, chicken, and fish have also pushed prices higher.
Md Khalilur Rahman Sajal, Executive Director of the voluntary consumer protection organization Voluntary Consumers Training and Awareness Society (VOCTA), said: “At present, consumers are extremely helpless in the vegetable market. Except for papaya, no vegetable can be bought below Tk 80, while most cost between Tk 80 and 120. Eggplant, which is a popular vegetable in every household in Bangladesh, is now being sold at Tk 160–200. The main reason for this situation is that when the market becomes unstable, the necessary measures to control it are not taken. Consumers have become so tolerant that they consider this dire situation as a twist of fate. They do not even hope for a quick solution.”
He said: “At various stages of the supply chain, there is ‘value addition,’ which may be moral, immoral, rule-based, or outside the rules—and this is why prices rise. For example, eggplants that sell for Tk 60–65 per kg in Narsingdi are sold for Tk 150–180 in Dhaka.”
Khalilur Rahman Sajal further said: “Despite repeated appeals and demands from those working for consumer protection in the country, regulatory agencies do not seem to be doing anything. If they had maintained their intervention in the market, consumers would have benefitted. It is very unfortunate that the price of rice—a staple commodity—increased even during the harvest season and is still rising, which the government has failed to control. This is considered a major failure of the responsible government agencies. To protect consumers from this helplessness, there have been demands for regular intervention in the market and turning it into a permanent system. This should be a continuous process. A one-off intervention for today or tomorrow is not enough. Until this system is introduced, consumers’ helplessness will not end.”
Market reviews and conversations with relevant individuals further reveal that an active syndicate operates in the supply and marketing system. They buy goods at low prices from remote areas and supply them to the capital and other parts of the country. In this process, although farmers struggle to cover costs, middlemen pocket massive profits.
It is known that while goods are cheap in remote areas, they are sold for several times more at retail. Even though costs or wholesale prices do not increase much, multiple excuses are used to charge several times higher at retail. Consumers say that this syndicate must be broken first. Although not impossible, those concerned are not taking any action.
LND/NE
………………
For 24/7 Breaking News :
📰 English News : www.libertynewsbd.com
📰 বাংলা সংবাদ : bangla.libertynewsbd.com
📰 Facebook : facebook.com/libertynewsbd
📰 Facebook (বাংলা) : facebook.com/libertynewsbangla
📰 X (Twitter) : x.com/libertynewsbd
📰 Instagram : instagram.com/libertynewsbd
📰 YouTube : youtube.com/@LibertyNewsBD
📰 YouTube : youtube.com/@LibertyNewsPlus
