Consumers in Dhaka finally received a sliver of relief this week as the price of green chillies plummeted by nearly half, following a restoration of import supplies. However, this single price drop stands in stark contrast to the persistently high cost of nearly all other essential vegetables, continuing a months-long strain on household budgets.
After soaring to an eye-watering Tk 300-400 per kilogram last week, green chillies are now selling for Tk 160-170 per kg in wholesale markets and Tk 180-220 in local neighborhood shops. Traders attribute this welcome decline to the resumption of imports from India, which had been temporarily halted during the recent Durga Puja holidays.
“The supply chain is back to normal through the land ports, which has immediately increased market availability and brought prices down,” explained a wholesaler from Karwan Bazar.
A Broader Market of High Prices
While chilli prices cooled, the overall vegetable market remains heated. The prolonged monsoon and ongoing lean season have kept prices for most items unchanged at elevated levels for the past three months.
- Spiny gourd saw a further increase to Tk 100 per kg.
- Aubergine and yardlong beans are selling for Tk 100-120 per kg.
- Tomatoes are priced at Tk 120-140 per kg.
- Okra, bitter gourd, and pointed gourd range between Tk 60 and Tk 100 per kg.
Traders point to excessive and consecutive rainfall as the root cause. “The farmland has been waterlogged for months. Vegetables in low-lying areas were completely destroyed, and even harvesting from higher ground was a challenge due to the damp soil,” said Md Imran, President of the Bangladesh Kachamal Arat Malik Samity. He added that prices are expected to ease only when the peak harvest season begins.
Consumer Struggles and Other Essentials
For consumers, the sustained high costs have forced a change in shopping habits. “I used to buy a kilogram of vegetables, but now I can only afford half or even a quarter of that amount. This situation has persisted for over four months,” shared Moazzem Hossain, a resident of Kallyanpur.
The price pressure extends beyond vegetables:
- Broiler chicken remains at Tk 170-180 per kg.
- Eggs are stable at Tk 130-135 per dozen.
- Beef costs Tk 750-800 per kg, while mutton is Tk 1,100-1,200 per kg.
- Hilsa fish commands a premium price of Tk 1,300-3,000 per kg, depending on size.
With the country currently reliant on imports for many fresh produce items, market observers indicate that a return to affordable prices is contingent on the arrival of the next domestic harvest, leaving consumers to navigate a challenging market in the interim.