B Mirror Report: Dhaka has turned noticeably quiet during the holy Eid-ul-Azha holiday, as many residents including vegetable vendors and daily commodity traders left the capital to celebrate with their families. As a result, more than half of vegetable and essential goods shops remain closed, while both buyers and sellers are significantly fewer than usual.

Despite the reduced market activity, prices of most vegetables and meat items have shown a downward trend, bringing relief to consumers.

A visit to Mugda and Maniknagar markets on Sunday morning (May 31) showed that over half of the vegetable shops were still closed on the fourth day of Eid. In the remaining open shops, most vegetables were being sold at 60 to 80 taka per kg, down from 80 to 100 taka before Eid.

Okra was the cheapest vegetable, selling at around 40 taka per kg. Other items such as papaya, white eggplant, snake gourd, pointed gourd, ridge gourd, bottle gourd, and similar vegetables were available at around 60 taka per kg.

Typically, demand for items like green chili, lemon, cucumber, carrot, and tomato rises during the Eid period, often pushing prices higher. However, this year prices have remained stable or even declined. Tomatoes were sold at 80 to 100 taka per kg, cucumbers at 50 to 60 taka, carrots at 140 to 160 taka, and green chilies at 60 to 80 taka per kg—about 10 to 20 taka lower than before Eid. Lemons continued to sell at 15 to 20 taka per four pieces.

Other vegetables such as bitter gourd, brinjal, yardlong beans, and kankrol were selling at around 80 taka per kg, while bottle gourds were priced between 60 and 80 taka per piece. Raw mangoes were available at just 30 taka per kg.

Consumers returning to the capital also expressed satisfaction with the lower prices. A private jobholder, Ehshanul Karim, who returned from his village in Barishal, said he was surprised to see significantly lower prices in Dhaka compared to his hometown.

“I bought vegetables at much lower prices here than in the village,” he said, adding that he was able to purchase green chilies, okra, and lemons at notably reduced rates.

Traders said the price drop is mainly due to lower demand and improved supply after Eid. “There is fresh supply in the market and fewer customers, so we are selling at lower profit margins,” said vegetable trader Akbar Mia in Maniknagar.

The poultry market has also seen a sharp decline in prices. Broiler chicken is now selling at 150 to 160 taka per kg, down from 180 to 200 taka just days before Eid. Sonali chicken prices have dropped to 360 taka per kg, while cock chicken is selling at 380 taka per kg.

Egg prices have also eased slightly, with farm eggs now selling at 135 taka per dozen, down from 150 taka before Eid.