Prices of essentials remain stable

Prices of essential commodities remained largely stable in the capital's kitchen markets a day after the announcement of the proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, with vegetables, poultry, fish and other daily necessities showing little immediate impact from the fiscal measures.

The proposed budget includes a range of tax and duty relief measures aimed at reducing agricultural production costs and easing pressure on food prices. These include exemption of the existing 7.5% VAT at the trading stage on all fertilisers, withdrawal of the 7.5% advance tax on imported agricultural pesticides and zero VAT on 36 raw materials used by local pesticide and insecticide manufacturers.

The budget also proposes full exemption of import duty on zinc ash to support domestic zinc sulphate production and extends zero-duty facilities to broader categories of veterinary medicines. In addition, three new raw materials for the poultry, dairy and fisheries feed industries have been included in the zero-duty concession list, alongside duty exemptions on selected poultry machinery and equipment.

These measures are expected to lower input costs and support food production, although their broader impact on consumer prices will depend on implementation and overall production expenses.

Visits to kitchen markets in Mirpur-6, Mirpur-10, Mirpur-13, Shewrapara and Taltala on Friday found prices of most vegetables unchanged, while a few items recorded declines of Tk10-Tk20 per kilogram.

Traders said adequate supplies, particularly of seasonal vegetables, helped prevent any price hikes following the budget announcement.

Pointed gourd and okra were selling at Tk40-Tk50 per kg, while brinjal was priced between Tk50 and Tk80 depending on variety. Ridge gourd, snake gourd and sponge gourd were available at Tk40-Tk50 per kg, while bitter gourd sold at Tk40-Tk60 per kg.

Green chilli prices fell by Tk20 per kg to Tk60-Tk80, while local onions declined by Tk5 to Tk35-Tk40 per kg. Potatoes were selling at Tk25-Tk30 per kg.

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Market insiders said commodity prices often rise immediately after budget announcements, but this year the situation appeared different. They noted that prices remained stable not only in the vegetable market but also in the fish market.

Sahidul, a vegetable trader at Mirpur-6, said the market currently has an adequate supply of vegetables.

Shawon, a private sector employee shopping at Shewrapara market, said he had expected prices to rise after the budget announcement but found vegetables relatively affordable.

“I thought prices would shoot up after the budget announcement. But vegetables are reasonably priced. Pointed gourd and okra are available at Tk30-Tk40, which is a relief. However, lentils and edible oil remain expensive,” he said.

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