Days of continuous rainfall and supply shortages have driven up vegetable prices in Dhaka's kitchen markets, with the cost of almost all varieties—except a few—now exceeding Tk100 per kilogram.
Egg prices have also increased. Over the past week, the price of a dozen eggs has risen by Tk20, while fish and poultry prices, which were already high, have remained elevated.
After visiting several kitchen markets and talks with traders and consumers in the capital on Friday morning, it was found that the prices of kitchen items have risen unexpectedly due to the climatic condition. Besides, data from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) also reflects the recent rise in prices of essential commodities.
According to traders, heavy rainfall has inundated vegetable fields in different parts of the country, causing crops to rot and disrupting transportation. As a result, supplies to the capital have declined significantly. They also alleged that some traders are taking advantage of the situation by charging excessive prices. Egg prices have also climbed due to lower supplies.
A market survey found that the prices of most vegetables have increased by Tk20 to Tk40 per kilogram compared with a week ago, while some have risen by as much as Tk60.
Hybrid cucumbers, which sold for Tk60–80 per kg just a few days ago, are now priced at Tk120–160. Locally grown cucumbers are selling for Tk150–200 per kg.
Eggplants and bitter gourds have also become more expensive, rising from Tk80 to Tk100–120 per kg. Yardlong beans are now selling for Tk100–120 per kg.
Vegetables such as okra, ridge gourd, and snake gourd, which were available for Tk60–80 per kg last week, are now selling for Tk80–100. Bottle gourds now cost Tk80–100 each, up from Tk60, although lower-quality produce is available at slightly cheaper prices.
Green chilli prices have also surged. A few days ago, they were selling for Tk120 per kg. Now, ordinary-quality green chillies cost Tk160–180 per kg, while premium-quality chillies are priced at Tk200.
In contrast, prices of papaya and tomatoes have declined. Papaya has fallen from Tk30 to Tk20 per kg, while increased imports have reduced tomato prices from Tk240 to Tk150–180 per kg. Meanwhile, onions remain unchanged at Tk40 per kg and potatoes at Tk25 per kg.
Vegetable traders attributed the price hike to reduced supplies caused by heavy rain and flooding. Abdul Jabbar, a vegetable seller at the Kawran Bazar kitchen market, said much of the market's produce comes from Narsingdi, where continuous rainfall has flooded fields and damaged crops, significantly reducing supply.
Explaining the sudden rise in prices, Shojib Ahmed, a vegetable seller at Mohammadpur, said, "Rain has sharply reduced vegetable supplies. I used to receive around 100 kilograms of vegetables every day, but now I'm getting only 60 kilograms, while demand remains unchanged. We are paying much higher prices at the wholesale level."
He added that prices are unlikely to ease within the next 10 to 15 days, as supplies are expected to remain limited until fresh harvests reach the market.
Egg prices have also climbed alongside vegetables. A week ago, a dozen brown farm eggs sold for Tk120. On Thursday, the same quantity was selling for Tk140.
Broiler chicken was priced at Tk190–200 per kg, Sonali chicken at Tk340–350 per kg, and hybrid Sonali at Tk310–320 per kg.
Prices of farmed fish, including rui, tilapia, pangas, koi, and pabda, have also edged up due to lower supplies. Rui weighing 1–1.5 kg was selling for around Tk350 per kg, while larger fish were priced close to Tk400. Tilapia, pangas, koi, and pabda were selling Tk20–30 per kg higher than before.
Consumers expressed frustration over the sharp increase in prices.
Punom Zannat, a housewife from Adabor said she came for weekly purchase of kitchen items from the Krishi Market. But However, she is frustrated over the excessive price of common kitchen items.
She said, "Regulalry I get my weekly kitchen essentials from this market. However, today I had to exceed my budget".
"I took Rui fish at Tk 300 per kg but the price has increased by Tk 50-60 today", she said.
Akbar Ali, a resident of Mohammadpur, said it was understandable that prolonged rainfall would reduce supplies, but the scale of the price hike was excessive.
"Green chilli has already hit a double century," he remarked, referring to its Tk200 per kg price.