GOPALGANJ, July 29: Vegetable prices skyrocketed in the past three days to Tuesday in Gopalganj and locals said they are displeased over the lack of price control initiatives by the authorities.
Per kg of bitter gourd was selling at Tk 80-90, which was Tk 50-55. A kilogram of okra was selling at Tk 70-80, which was Tk 35-30. A whooping rate of Tk 140-130 was asked for per kilogram of brinjal, which was Tk 45-50.
Per kg of snake gourd was selling at Tk 55-60, which was Tk 35-40. A kilogram of green papaya was selling at Tk 40-45, which was Tk 20-25. Per kilogram of cucumber was priced at Tk 75-80, which was Tk 45-50. Per four pieces of green banana was selling at Tk 40-50, which was Tk 25-30.
A kilogram of sweet pumpkin was selling at Tk 50-55, which was Tk 30-35. Tk 60-70 was asked for a kilogram of yardlong bean, which was Tk 40-46. A kilogram of arum stolon was selling at Tk 60-65, which was Tk 30-40. Pointed gourd was selling at Tk 50-60, which was Tk 25-30.
Moreover, each kilogram of ridge gourd was selling at Tk 60-70, which was Tk 40-45. Per kg of basil was selling at Tk 45-50, which was Tk 25-30. A piece of medium-sized bottle gourd was selling at Tk 80-90, which was Tk 40-46. A piece of water arum was selling at Tk 45-50, which was Tk 25-30. Potato was selling at Tk 30-32 per kg, which was Tk 20.
According to Mozam Mollah, a vegetable trader in Gopalganj's Natun Bazar, supply shortage from wholesale markets (arat) has resulted in the price surge and the prices in those markets have also been high. "We could not conduct our business properly as a result," Mozam said. Dr. Md Mamunur Rahman, deputy director (DD), Agriculture, Gopalganj, said about 1,700 tonnes of vegetables on 85 hectares have sustained damage, which has a market price of about Tk 51 million. Growers were unable to supply sufficient vegetables in the markets as a result due to which vegetable prices shot up abnormally, according to the DD.
Gopalganj District Agriculture Marketting Officer Arif Hossain said they fined four vegetable traders Tk 13,000 on Sunday after prices shot up abnormally in Gopalganj markets.
Locals said they are not happy with the actions of the authorities as prices of essential goods including vegetables have been rising.
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