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Green chilli prices jumped to Tk 350 a kilogramme in the city on Sunday, adding to the woes of consumers.
Traders said heavy rain and flooding damaged chilli fields in many districts, destroying plants and reducing production. Imports have also remained suspended, tightening the supply.
On Sunday, the essential item was selling between Tk 350 and Tk 320 a kg at Rayer Bazar, West Dhanmondi, Palashi and Hatirpool and some other markets. A day earlier it was priced at Tk 240-260 a kg while a week ago, the price ranged between Tk 200 and Tk 220 a kg.
In between August 4 and August 6, the price hit Tk 300 a kg but then briefly cooled to Tk 200, said Farid Uddin, a vegetable vendor at West Dhanmondi. He said that the wholesale prices for a 5-kg basket rose to Tk 1,350-1,400 on Sunday, up from Tk 850-900 just two days ago.
Spice trader Mohsin Ali at Karwan Bazar said Nilphamari, Bogura, Jamalpur, Kushtia and Rangpur usually produce more chillies in the summer, but excessive rainfall damaged the harvest, cutting supply. "That, along with halted imports from India's West Bengal and Bihar where prices also soared, has driven
the market higher," he said.
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