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Prices of rice, onion, edible oil and all kinds of vegetables witnessed a further hike last week, intensifying the sufferings of people with limited incomes.
Onion prices increased by Tk 10 a kg in a week, and by Tk 20 per kg in two weeks. Meanwhile, the government raised the price of bottled soybean oil by Tk 14 per litre last week.
Overall, the prices of several essential items in the market have become burdensome for the lower and lower-middle income groups. The price hikes of multiple items have escalated their household expenses, said consumer rights.
Regarding the onion price surge, vendors said that prices had been relatively low this season due to a good harvest.
Locally grown onions dropped to as low as Tk 30 per kg in March.
Even after Eid, those were selling at Tk 40-45 a kg. However, prices have now jumped to Tk 60-65 per kg.
Akhter Hossain, a trader at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said that onion prices in the wholesale market have been increasing gradually almost every day since Eid on April 1. Currently, wholesale onions are selling at Tk 54-58 a kg.
Meanwhile, from last week, oil refiners have increased the price of soybean oil by Tk 14 per litre and palm oil by Tk 12 per litre, with approval from the ministry of commerce.
According to the new prices, one litre of bottled soybean oil now costs Tk 189, up from Tk 173-175. The price of a five-litre bottle of soybean oil has been fixed at Tk 922, up from Tk 852.
Alongside bottled oil, the new price of loose soybean and palm oil is Tk 169 per litre, up from Tk 157.
However, loose soybean oil is selling in the market at Tk 180-182 per litre and palm oil at Tk 170-175 per litre.
Rice prices have increased by Tk 2.0-6.0 a kg hike in a week while finer quality has shown the outmost surge, according to the market sources.
Coarse rice is being sold at Tk 60-62, medium variety Tk 70-72 a kg marking Tk 2.0 per kg hike.
Finer rice has witnessed Tk 5.0-6.0 a kg further hike and is being sold at Tk 85-125 per kg depending on varieties.
Quality miniket or jeerashail is being retailed at Tk 95-98, najirshail Tk 85-95, boiled shampa katari Tk 124-125 a kg in the groceries.
Most of vegetables have witnessed Tk 5.0-10 per kg hike in a week.
However, there is some relief in the meat market.
Broiler chicken is selling at Tk 180-190 per kg, and Pakistani/Sonali varieties at Tk 270-310 per kg -- prices that have remained almost static over the past two weeks.
Beef prices have slightly decreased and are being sold at Tk 750-780 per kg, while egg prices also remained unchanged at Tk 125-135 a dozen.
SM Nazer Hossain, vice president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), said that onion prices rose by Tk 20 a kg, oil by Tk 14 per litre, rice by Tk 2.0-5.0 per kg, and vegetable prices have doubled or even tripled in the past two and a half weeks -- significantly increasing food expenses and affecting the poor and lower-middle class.
He said that since incomes have not increased, it will be more difficult for people with limited earnings to cope.
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