With the start of the Boro harvest season in the country, rice prices have slightly dropped in Dhaka’s markets. Over the past week, the price of coarse rice (IRRI/Swarna) has decreased by Tk 2 per kilogram.
The price of finer rice, such as Miniket, has fallen even more. However, the price of Nazirshail remains unchanged.
On the other side, prices of nearly all types of vegetables remain high, and the cost of chicken and fish has also gone up.
On Friday, a market survey in Dhaka’s Shantinagar, Turag’s New Market, and Karwan Bazar revealed the current pricing of essential commodities. Traders said the Boro harvest has begun, and paddy harvesting is nearly complete in the Haor region.
Harvesting has also started in other parts of the country, and new rice has already begun entering the market, positively impacting rice prices.
As of yesterday, coarse IRRI/Swarna rice was selling for Tk 52 to Tk 55 per kg—Tk 2 less than last week. Medium-quality rice like Pajam/Lata was priced between Tk 57 and Tk 65 per kg. Miniket rice dropped by Tk 4 to 5, now selling for Tk 74 to Tk 80 per kg. However, traders noted that this is new Miniket rice; the older variety is still selling for Tk 78 to Tk 90 per kg. Nazirshail rice remains priced between Tk 78 and Tk 95 per kg.
Saddam Hossain, owner of a departmental store in Turag’s New Market, said rice prices had been high for quite some time but are now starting to fall. With new rice entering the market due to the Boro season, he expects prices to drop further.
While rice prices have eased, vegetable prices remain steep. Almost no vegetables are available for under Tk 60 per kg.
Saddam reported that yesterday, brinjal and yardlong beans were selling for Tk 80 to Tk 90 per kg. Bitter gourd, ridge gourd, sponge gourd, snake gourd, pointed gourd, stem amaranth, and okra were all priced between Tk 60 and Tk 80 per kg.
Papaya was slightly cheaper at Tk 50 to Tk 60 per kg. However, teasel gourd saw a sharp increase, selling for Tk 120 per kg, while drumsticks were selling for Tk 120 to Tk 140 per kg. Potatoes were priced at Tk 20 to Tk 25 per kg, tomatoes at Tk 40 to Tk 50, and green chilies at Tk 80 to Tk 90 per kg.
Towab Ali, a vegetable seller at Shantinagar Market, said the comfort brought by winter vegetables is gone now. Supply is currently low, but prices may ease once summer vegetables arrive in larger quantities.
He added that onion prices remained relatively stable, with local onions selling for Tk 55 to Tk 60 per kg. Broiler chicken prices rose by Tk 10 per kg over the week, now selling for Tk 180 to Tk 190 per kg.
Sonali chicken is priced at Tk 260 to Tk 290 per kg. Beef and mutton prices remain unchanged, with beef selling for Tk 700 to Tk 780 per kg and mutton for Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,150 per kg.
Fish prices, however, have seen a noticeable hike.
Over the past two weeks, fish prices have increased by Tk 20 to Tk 50 per kg. Among various types, farmed rohu and katla are priced at Tk 320 to Tk 450 per kg, tilapia at Tk 220 to Tk 250, pangas at Tk 200 to Tk 250, pabda at Tk 350 to Tk 500, shing at Tk 350 to Tk 550, koi at Tk 220 to Tk 300, and shrimp at Tk 600 to Tk 900 per kg.
