Skyrocketing vegetable prices in various local kitchen markets across Rangpur district have inflicted severe financial woes on lower- and middle-income groups over the past one week.
It is learnt, the sudden spike in vegetable prices has added to the financial hardships of the commoners already struggling to cope with the rising cost of other essential commodities.
These unbearable economic conditions have taken the heaviest toll on vulnerable and low-income families.
Meanwhile, traders highlighted a drastic drop in the supply of almost all vegetables in wholesale markets. This stems from recent downpours that damaged vegetables fields throughout the district and stifled output.
Countering the traders' claims, buyers accused a group of opportunistic merchants of manipulating the market. They alleged that these traders use baseless pretext to escalate the prices of vegetables and other essentials.
During a visit several city kitchen markets, this FE correspondent observed an ongoing escalation trend in vegetable prices.
A steep rise in vegetable prices has been observed over the past seven days. Yard-long beans, bitter gourd and eggplant lead the surge at Tk 80-100 per kg against their previous prices of Tk 30-40 per kg a week ago.
Besides, ridge gourd, snake gourd, teasel gourd, okra, and taro arum have all risen to Tk 50-60 per kg from last week's Tk 30-35.
Furthermore, green papaya and pointed gourd have escalated to Tk 40 to 50 per kg from previous prices of Tk 20 to Tk 30 a kg. Bottle gourd is available at Tk 50-60 per piece against its previous price of Tk 30-40 per piece earlier.
Moreover, an abnormal upward trend has been observed in the price of green chilli, escalating to Tk 140-160 per kg while its former rate was Tk 70-80 a kg one week ago.
Badiar Rahman, a vegetables seller at Kamalkachhna Bazar in Rangpur city, told The Financial Express that heavy rains have damaged certain crops, pushing vegetable prices higher. He also pointed out that when supplies dwindle, wholesalers rapidly hike prices even further.
Naeem, another vegetables seller at Rangpur City Bazar, told The Financial Express that continuous downpours are preventing farmers from gathering produce. He explained that flooded fields lead to lower market supplies and rising prices.
In addition, soaring egg prices have deepened the hardships of low-and middle-income people, who are now forced to make eggs their staple protein instead of more expensive fish and meat.
Egg prices in local kitchen markets have surged to Tk 126-132 per dozen, climbing from the earlier Tk 108-114 a dozen.
Talking to The Financial Express at City Bazar, customers including Md. Zaman and Sajib Hossain explained that the relentless surge in vegetable prices is making daily survival a struggle for fixed-income households.
They added that the inflated costs of essential groceries, including fish, meat, and eggs, are compounding their financial burdens.
In this context, the general public stressed the need for stringent market regulation to reign in the continuous spiral in commodity prices.
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