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As Ramadan is set to begin on Tuesday, the inflated prices of almost all essential ingredients for iftar meals are causing concern among ordinary people.
With the holy month traditionally driving up demand for these essentials, prices are likely to increase further, adding to the worries of the common populace.
Prices of lemons have also increased a lot just a day before Ramadan starts.
Among the ingredients for iftar, prices of sugar and oil have been high for more than a year.
Besides, prices of dates, chickpeas, and lentils have seen even larger increases.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), prices for staples like sugar, dates, soybean oil, chickpeas, and lentils have reached three-year highs.
Sugar is now selling at Tk 140-145 per kg, markedly up from 2022's Tk 78-80, and chickpeas are now priced at Tk 100-110 per kg, a substantial rise from Tk 70-75 in 2021, TCB data shows.
However, the market prices for these items are even higher than the TCB prices show, roughly by Tk 5.
A store owner in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar, Kamrul Islam was quoted by local media to have confirmed the trend, stating that chickpeas and pulses routinely see price hikes before Ramadan.
He further noted that flour has surged to Tk 140-150 per kg.
TCB data also shows a substantial increase in lentil prices over the past two years.
Currently at Tk 80-90 per kg, lentils were sold at Tk 55-60 before Ramadan in 2022, according to the data.
Local onion prices have drastically risen.
They are now priced at Tk 90-100 per kg, compared to Tk 30-40 in 2022 and Tk 35-40 last year, TCB data shows.
Amid rising prices of essentials and the tendency for these items' prices to increase during Ramadan, the government has been taking proactive measures ahead of Ramadan to stabilise prices throughout the holy month.
Various government steps have already been taken in this direction.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also directed relevant parties to ensure price stability.
On Sunday, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries urged traders to stabilise essential goods prices and maintain a smooth supply chain for Ramadan.
That day, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun also announced a special BSTI drive to oversee goods' prices and quality during the holy month.