United News of Bangladesh

Onion prices in Khulna have jumped by Tk 25 per kilogram over the past two weeks, despite no visible shortage in the market, leaving consumers deeply concerned. Large stocks of onions are seen piled up in warehouses and retail shops, yet prices keep climbing almost daily. Wholesalers blame reduced supply caused by ongoing rainfall, while retailers say they have no choice but to sell at higher prices because they are buying at inflated rates. Consumers, however, accuse hoarding syndicates of manipulating prices using baseless excuses. A visit to retail markets including Khalishpur, Daulatpur, New Market, Moylapota, Jorakal Market, Natun Bazar and Boyra Bazar in Khulna city showed onions selling for Tk 75–80 per kg, an increase of Tk 25–30 from two weeks ago. At Sonadanga wholesale market, prices range from Tk 62–68 per kg, with a Tk 12–13 gap between wholesale and retail. Harun-or-Rashid, a customer at KDA New Market, expressed frustration, “Onions that used to cost Tk 50–60 are now selling for Tk 80. I can’t figure out the reason. Is it due to hoarding or the floods?” Shukur Ali, another buyer, said, “I earn a small wage. How am I supposed to buy onions, fish, vegetables and rice now? Poor people are really struggling.” Onion prices surge in Bangladesh amid import halt, supply shortages Retailer Sohag from Khalishpur said, “We have to sell onions with limited profit margins. Wholesalers suddenly raised prices due to rain, so we are forced to increase our rates too. Currently, onions cost between Tk 75 and 80 per kilogram, whereas two weeks ago, the price was Tk 50–55.”  

Like elsewhere in the country, consumers in Khulna are struggling with rising rice and edible oil prices. However, prices of all varieties of vegetables remain under buying capacity of the consumers. Buyers alleged that market monitoring by mobile courts to keep prices of commodities under control and hanging the price lists of essentials don’t yield benefits for them. The prices of commodities are increasing by leaps and bounds regularly as each kilogram of rice went up by Tk six to seven on an average and per litre of soybean oil also marked an increase by Tk three to five, crushing daily life of the low-income and poor people.  The rice prices on all varieties hiked over the past three months, said consumers, blaming the middlemen for this. Read: Drives conducted in Dhaka’s kitchen markets to monitor prices of essentials Visiting several markets in Khulna city on Thursday, UNB’s Khulna correspondent found that per kilogram of potato cost Tk 20, local variety of onion prices Tk 40 to 45, garlic at Tk 235 to 240, winter bean at Tk 30, green chili Tk 60, eggplant at Tk 30, sweet pumpkin at Tk 20, and papaya Tk 20. Besides, a bunch of spinach was charged Tk 15 to 20. Per kilogram of coarse rice (Swarna) was sold at Tk 54, Atash Balam at Tk 65, Miniket at Tk 75, Miniket (substandard) at Tk 65, Basmati at Tk 75 to 76 and Kalojira at Tk 100. Edible oil ranks the top on the list of commodities at grocery shops, showing five litre of Fresh, Teer and Bashundara edible oil at Tk 875. Consumers have to count Tk 1758 for per litre of oil. On the other hand, surprisingly per litre of loose (open) soybean oil was being sold at Tk 195. Read more: Essentials’ prices up in Khulna kitchen markets One Md Abu Jafar Sheikh who came to KCC SuperMarket to buy commodities, told this correspondent that the businesspeople have been increasing prices of commodities at their own will. The price hikes of rice and edible oil can’t be brought under control despite drives, he said. Echoing buyer Jafar, most consumers urged the government to rein in the commodity market.