<i>Prices of essentials go up in Chittagong </i>
Like previous years consumers in Chittagong have again had the bitter experience of price hike of essentials with the beginning of Ramadan.
Except gram (chhola), prices of white pea (motor), khesari (a kind of pulse), onion, dun peas, sugar and edible oil have already gone up at different kitchen markets.
To increase sufferings to the low-income people, prices of coarse rice both boiled and atap rose by Tk 2 to Tk 3 per kilogram (kg) and flour by Tk 4 to Tk 5 per kg this week.
Besides, to deceive the market monitoring teams launched by the district administration and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), traders are displaying false price lists of food items at different kitchen markets.
Consumers while shopping the food items for Iftar and Sehri found an unusual rise of their prices despite the items are abundant at different kitchen markets.
“Price hike has become an unwanted and painful tradition during Ramadan while no initiative by the government or local administration is visible to check it due to a section of unscrupulous businessmen,” said Ruksana Anwar, a housewife.
While visiting Reazuddinbazar, Bakshirhat and Karnaphuli CDA Market on Monday and Tuesday, very few shops were found displaying the price charts.
Price of gram (chhola), a popular item during Ramadan, remains stable for the last one month while various quality of gram was found selling at Tk 44 to Tk 46 per kg.
But, khesari, a kind of pulse used to prepare 'piazoo' and another necessary items for Iftar, was being sold at Tk 42 to Tk 45 that was below Tk 40 before Ramadan.
Price of sugar rose by Tk 4 to Tk 6 per kg and was selling at Tk 48 to Tk 50 which was sold at Tk 44 a kg two weeks ago.
Onion was being sold in retail markets like Karnaphuli Market and Reazuddin Bazar at Tk 26 to Tk 28 per kg while it was Tk 20 last week.
Like garlic, price of ginger reached at Tk 110 a kg from Tk 100.
Though the price chart displayed in front of M/s Gias & Brothers at Karnaphuli Market showed price of onion as Tk 22, the seller was found selling it at Tk 26.
According to the price list, garlic is Tk 144 a kg, ginger Tk 104 per kg, lentil Tk 104 where the items were being sold at Tk 160, Tk 110 and Tk 120 per kg.
When asked Giasuddin, proprietor of the shop, said they did it to avoid harassment by the market monitoring teams.
He pointed to the price hike at the wholesale markets as reason behind such higher retail prices.
Gias said he bought ginger at Tk 90 per kg from Khatunganj wholesale market on August 14, which rose by Tk 7 only after two days.
Meanwhile, the wholesale and retail price of different types of edible oil -- both brand and non-brand -- marked sharp rise in last one week.
Palm oil price rose to Tk 2730 on Monday at the Khatunganj wholesale market while it was at Tk 2680 one week ago. The price of super palm oil reached at Tk 2775 against Tk 2740 last week.
Companies of different brands also raised the prices of their products by Tk 4 per litre this week.
A five-litre jerrican of Rupchanda brand was found selling at Tk 450 on Tuesday while the price was at Tk 430 four days back.
Traders said the distributors of the products on Monday fixed the new rate at Tk 444 from its previous rate at Tk 424. The new company rate of a one-litre jerrican of the same brand was fixed at Tk 93 while the previous rate was at Tk 89.
The company rate of a five-litre can of Rupchanda brand soyabean was increased by Tk 10, fixing at Tk 379 from Tk 369.
Contacted Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI) President MA Latif MP blamed a section of unscrupulous businessmen for such price hike.
He said such price hike is unexpected as there is plenty of supply of these food items at both wholesale and retail markets.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Foyez Ahmad said they would strengthen the market monitoring to check the price hike.
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