Prices of rice, red lentil, edible oil remain high

The prices of rice, red lentil and edible oil remained high in the city’s kitchen markets over the week ending Friday.

Traders said that the prices of commodities including rice went up in the last week due to panic buying over the coronavirus outbreak in the country and the prices of the items remained high in the city markets over the week.

But the prices of many other essentials including vegetables, onions, garlic and eggs decreased in the city markets due to lack of buyers as the government announced a 10-day public holidays from March 26 to April 4 and a good number of people left Dhaka, they said.

The standard variety of BR-28 rice was selling for Tk 45-48 a kg and the fine variety for Tk 50-55 a kg in the capital on Friday.

The fine variety of Miniket rice was selling for Tk 60-65 a kg in the city markets on the day.

The fine variety of Najirshail rice was retailing at Tk 62-68 a kg and its standard variety at Tk 58-60 a kg.

The prices of onions decreased by Tk 30 a kg and the item was selling for Tk 70-80 a kg over the week ending Friday.

The prices of garlic also decreased by Tk 10-20 a kg over the week and the imported garlic was selling for Tk 140-170 a kg while the local-variety garlic was selling for Tk 90-110 a kg on the day.

The prices of potatoes decreased by Tk 5 a kg and the item was selling for Tk 20 a kg in the city markets on Friday.

The prices of red lentil remained high and its coarse variety was selling for Tk 65-70 a kg while the medium-quality variety was selling for Tk 85 a kg.

Prices of most of the vegetables decreased by Tk 10 a kg over the week ending Friday.

Aubergine was selling for Tk 40-50 a kg, papaya for Tk 35-40 a kg, bitter gourds for Tk 50-60 a kg, okra for Tk 60 a kg, bottle gourds for Tk 40-50 apiece, cucumber for Tk 20-30 a kg, carrot for Tk 30 a kg and tomatoes for Tk 30 a kg on Friday.

Green chilli was selling for Tk 60-80 a kg on the day.

The price of unpacked soya bean oil was selling for Tk 92-94 a litre and palm oil was selling for Tk 86 a litre in the city markets on Friday.

The price of bottled soya bean oil (a one-litre container) was selling for Tk 105-115 while a five-litre container was selling for Tk 490-520 in the city markets.

The prices of sugar remained high and the refined sugar was selling for Tk 68-70 a kg, while the locally produced sugar was retailing at Tk 70 a kg in the city markets.

Red chilli was selling for Tk 260-300 a kg in the city markets. Turmeric was selling for Tk 160-260 a kg on Friday.

The price of broiler chicken remained unchanged over the week and the item was selling for Tk 115-130 a kg in the city markets on Friday. The locally bred hens were selling for Tk 500 a kg.

Beef was selling for Tk 550-570 a kg while mutton was selling for Tk 750-800 a kg on Friday in the city markets.

The prices of fish remained high in the city markets over the week.

Rohita was selling for Tk 250-350 a kg and Katla for Tk 250-350 a kg, depending on their size and quality.

Pangas was selling for Tk 130-180 a kg and Tilapia for Tk 120-160 a kg.

The price of eggs increased by Tk 4-6 a hali (four pieces) and the item was selling for Tk 38-40 a hali on Friday.

Fine-quality packaged salt was selling for Tk 35 a kg, while the refined variety of salt was retailing at Tk 25 a kg. (Source: New Age)