Vegetable prices have risen once again in the capital’s markets, despite the ongoing strain on consumers. While the price of hilsa fish has dropped by BDT 100 per kilogram, it is still being sold at high rates. In contrast, the prices of poultry and other meats remain stable.

A visit to Karwan Bazar on Friday (September 26) revealed this trend.

For the past few months, vegetable prices in Dhaka have been unstable, with traders citing rainfall and supply shortages. Although prices had fluctuated slightly, they have spiked again this week, causing distress among consumers.

Aminul Islam, a shopper at the market, said, “Vegetable prices are once again out of control. No one seems to be monitoring the situation. Traders are taking advantage of this to destabilize the market.”

Vendors, however, blamed the recent rainfall for reduced supply, causing prices to increase by BDT 10–15 per kilogram.

Anis, a vegetable seller at Karwan Bazar, said, “Prices have gone up slightly. This is common during this time of year as summer and monsoon vegetables go out of season, and early winter vegetables start to enter the market.”

Current Vegetable Prices (per kg unless stated otherwise):

• Sponge gourd: BDT 40–50
• Cucumber: BDT 50–80
• Papaya: BDT 20
• Ridge gourd: BDT 60–80
• Snake gourd: BDT 50–60
• Potato: BDT 20–25
• Hog plum (amra): BDT 60
• Taro stem (kochu mukhi): BDT 40
• Bitter gourd: BDT 80
• Okra: BDT 70–80
• Tomato: BDT 120–140
• Yard-long beans: BDT 60
• Radish: BDT 80
• Pointed gourd: BDT 70
• Teasle gourd: BDT 60
• Eggplant: BDT 80–100
• Taro shoots (kochu loti): BDT 60
• Bottle gourd (each): BDT 60–70
• Ash gourd (each): BDT 50
• Green chili: BDT 160 per kg

Meat and Egg Prices Remain Stable:

• Broiler chicken: BDT 170
• Sonali chicken: BDT 280–300
• Red layer: BDT 280
• White cock (broiler-type): BDT 290
• Indigenous chicken: BDT 600–700

Beef and mutton prices remain unchanged:

• Beef: BDT 760–800
• Mutton (goat): BDT 1,200
• Sheep meat: BDT 1,100

Egg prices also stable:

• Red eggs (dozen): BDT 130
• White eggs: BDT 120
• Duck eggs: BDT 220–230
• Indigenous chicken eggs: BDT 235

Hilsa Prices Drop Slightly, Remain High

Although hilsa prices have decreased by BDT 100 per kg, they remain steep:

• 1 kg hilsa: BDT 2,100
• 700–800g hilsa: BDT 1,750–1,850
• 500–600g hilsa: BDT 1,500
• 1.5 kg hilsa: BDT 3,000

Shopper Asif commented, “Even during peak season, we’re paying over BDT 2,000 for hilsa. I bought one for BDT 2,500 recently. If this continues, we may have to give up eating hilsa.”

Other Fish Prices (per kg):

• Boal: BDT 750–900
• Coral: BDT 800–850
• Ayer: BDT 700–800
• Farmed rui: BDT 380–450
• Katla: BDT 450
• Tilapia: BDT 180–220
• Pangas: BDT 180–235
• Pabda & Shing: BDT 400–500
• Farmed tengra: BDT 750–800
• Kachki: BDT 650–700
• Mola: BDT 500–550

Rice Prices Unchanged

According to Rakib, a rice trader at Karwan Bazar, there has been no recent hike in rice prices, but a drop is unlikely. Current prices:

• Miniket: BDT 80–85
• Nazirshail: BDT 85–92
• Coarse rice: BDT 56–62