Sayeed Muhammad: In spite of having adequate supplies, retail prices of some spices and essentials have shot up in city markets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.Prices of each kilogram of cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, clove, raisin andblack pepper have jumped by Tk 20 to Tk 100 in a week, with retailers andwholesalers blaming each other as they do every time.
Each kg of potato, garlic, ginger and onion has become costlier by Tk 5 to Tk20, says findings by The Daily Star.The prices, both retail and wholesale, as inspected on Thursday in severalretail and wholesale markets in the capital's different areas, including Karwan Bazar, Moghbazar, Jatrabari, Mirpur and New Market, were much higher that were even a few days ago.
Imported garlic was selling at Karwan Bazar wholesale stores at Tk 50 a kg,while the retailers were charging Tk 70 to Tk 80 for the same item. Such price hike ahead of Eid has become a common problem for consumers, particularly for the low and middle-income people, over the years.
Alauddin Ahmed, a shopper in Karwan Bazar, alleged that traders increase prices of essentials intentionally ahead of Eid to make extra profit.“I don't find any logic for such a price hike. Traders do this targeting Eidbecause people like me have no other option but to buy the commodities at
an increased price.”Retailers, however, claimed that prices have gone up in wholesale markets
like the previous years as Eid is around the corner.However, this newspaper found wholesale prices of most of thecommodities, except for some spices, were almost stable in last one week.
The wholesale prices of some items, including onion, have gone down in last four days.
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