Due to the early supply of winter vegetables, the prices of several vegetables in Dhaka’s markets have started to decline. However, fish and meat remain at high prices, giving little relief to consumers.
During a visit to Rampura, Badda, and Joar Sahara markets in the capital on Thursday (October 23), it was found that the price of beans has fallen by up to Tk 100 per kilogram over the past two weeks and is now being sold at Tk 120–140 per kg. Similarly, tomato prices have dropped by Tk 30–40 per kg, now selling at Tk 120–140.
With increased supply, prices of pointed gourd (potol), okra (dherosh), taro stem (kochumukhi), and bottle gourd (lau) have also declined slightly. Potol and okra are selling for Tk 70–80 per kg, kochumukhi for Tk 50–60, and bottle gourd for Tk 60–70 per piece. The price of green chilies has decreased to Tk 160–200 per kg.
However, popular vegetables like eggplant, bitter gourd, ridge gourd, long beans, cauliflower, and pumpkin remain costly. Eggplants are selling between Tk 100 and 180 per kg depending on quality, while cauliflower is priced at Tk 60–80 per piece.
Vegetable sellers said that if supply continues to rise, overall vegetable prices may come down further in the coming weeks.
On the other hand, there has been little change in fish and meat prices. Broiler chickens are selling for Tk 170–180 per kg, and Sonali chickens for Tk 300–320 per kg. Rui fish costs Tk 350–500 per kg depending on size, tilapia Tk 230–250, koi Tk 240–250, and shrimp Tk 650–1,000 per kg.
Due to the high prices of fish and meat, the demand for farm eggs has increased, though prices have slightly dropped over the past week and are now selling at Tk 140–145 per dozen.
Meanwhile, prices of daily essentials like lentils remain high — small-grain lentils are Tk 160 per kg, medium-grain Tk 130–140, and large-grain Tk 115–125. Locally grown onions are steady at Tk 80–85 per kg.