Chandpur Reels from Post-Eid Price Surge: Veggies Costlier, Hilsa Out of Reach

Following Eid-ul-Fitr, Chandpur’s kitchen markets are grappling with a sharp spike in essential prices, hitting low-income residents and daily wage earners hard despite ample vegetable supplies. A market visit on 18 May revealed soaring costs for onions, garlic, and greens, with no clear explanation from traders, some of whom predict further hikes.

Onions have jumped to Tk55–60 per kg from Tk30–35 a month ago, while garlic ranges from Tk120–130 per kg. Vegetable prices are also up: spiny gourd at Tk110 per kg, pointed gourd and ridge gourd at Tk70, long beans at Tk70, carrots at Tk40–45, sponge gourd at Tk60, green chilies at Tk100, and coriander leaves at Tk125 per kg. Papaya costs Tk80 per kg, bitter gourd and pumpkin Tk40, tomatoes Tk35–40, ladies finger Tk60, and sweet potatoes Tk60. Bottle and wax gourds range from Tk50–80 each, cucumbers Tk60 per kg, and eggplants Tk70–80 per kg. Leafy greens like spinach and taro stems are Tk40–70 per kg, with lemons at Tk20–25 for four medium or Tk40 per kg for smaller ones. Potatoes remain stable at Tk20 per kg.

Edible oils stay pricey, with mustard oil at Tk300 per liter and soybean oil at Tk190. At Wireless Bazar, daily wage earners like mason Mofiz and madrasa staff Atikur Rahman voiced frustration, saying, “Everything’s suddenly costlier; we’re struggling to afford basics.”

Fish prices, especially hilsa, have skyrocketed. At Biponibag market, hilsa (1 kg) costs Tk3,300, 500–600g varieties Tk2,000 per kg, and smaller ones Tk1,300–1,400 per kg. Medium shrimp are Tk900 per kg, catfish Tk750–800, pangas Tk220, tilapia Tk280, and small fish like kachki Tk500. Traders like Delwar Hossain blame low hilsa supply from depots like Horinaghat, impacted by a marine fishing ban and reduced catches from Bhola and Hatia. Only 2–2.5 maunds of Padma hilsa reach markets daily, with improvement expected by June–July.

Despite high prices, the Department of Agricultural Extension reports Chandpur met onion (8,811.6 tonnes from 750 hectares) and garlic (2,962.25 tonnes from 360 hectares) production targets. Traders like Shabebarat Sarkar note depots haven’t fully resumed post-ban operations, exacerbating fish shortages.

Source: UNB