Supply crunch pushes up prices of essentials in local kitchen markets

The capital’s kitchen markets have yet to return to full normalcy after the long holiday of Eid-ul-Fitr, with partial shop openings, limited supply, and fewer customers creating a sluggish trading environment.

Visits to several areas including Sutrapur, Ray Saheb Bazar, Noyabazar and the Dholpur (Dhupkhola) field market on Monday showed that many traders are still in their hometowns following the Eid vacation. As a result, a large number of vegetable, fish and meat shops remain closed.

Even in the shops that are open, the supply of goods is comparatively low. Due to the limited supply, prices of some essential items have increased slightly compared to normal times, particularly vegetables and fish.

Customers said they are unable to find all necessary items in one place. In some markets vegetables are available but fish or meat shops remain closed, forcing buyers to visit multiple markets to complete their shopping.

Traders said business activities are gradually resuming after the holidays and they expect the markets to return to normal within the next two to three days as more vendors come back and supply improves.

A market survey showed that eggplant is selling between Tk70 and Tk120 per kg, bitter gourd at Tk120, cucumber Tk50–60, carrots Tk40–50, yard-long beans and pointed gourd Tk100, ridge gourd Tk120, cauliflower Tk60, cabbage Tk40, papaya Tk40 and potatoes Tk20 per kg.

Green chilies are selling at Tk200 per kg, while onions are priced between Tk40 and Tk50, garlic Tk180–220 and ginger Tk160–180 per kg.

In the rice market, fine rice is selling at Tk75–80 per kg, BR-28 rice at Tk60 and coarse rice at Tk55. Lentils are selling between Tk100 and Tk180, mung beans Tk170, split peas Tk160 and chickpeas Tk140 per kg.

Bottled soybean oil is selling at Tk195 per litre while loose oil is priced at Tk210. Sugar is selling at Tk110 per kg.

Although fish supply remains limited, prices are mostly unchanged. Small hilsa is selling at Tk1,100 per kg and medium-sized hilsa at Tk1,800. Rui and katla are priced between Tk230 and Tk650, shrimp at Tk750, and other fish between Tk400 and Tk1,200 per kg.

In the meat market, beef is selling at Tk800–850 per kg, mutton at Tk1,300, broiler chicken at Tk250 and Sonali chicken at Tk360.

Saddam Hossain, a shopper at the Dhupkhola market, said that such a situation is common for a few days after Eid. He said he had to visit multiple markets to complete his shopping as he had guests at home.

Imon Sarwar, a customer at Noyabazar, said prices have increased due to limited supply. “Vegetables that used to cost Tk80 now cost around Tk100, which is putting pressure on middle-income families,” he said.

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Mohammad Milon, a trader at Ray Saheb Bazar, said both customer turnout and supply remain low but he expects the situation to normalise by Friday.

Grocer Mohammad Nizam Uddin from Noyabazar said Dhaka is still relatively empty due to the long Eid holidays and markets will take more time to regain momentum as people gradually return.

Bimal Das, a fish seller in Sutrapur, said fewer fish are arriving at the wholesale depots and customer numbers are also low, so traders are reluctant to bring large quantities due to the risk of losses.

Although this scenario is common in Dhaka’s markets after Eid every year, both traders and customers remain hopeful that the situation will soon stabilise once supply chains fully resume.