Due to the increase in supply and imports in the Indian market, the price of raw chili in the capital has decreased by 140 to 150 taka per kg. However, despite the decrease in chili, there has been no relief in the daily necessities market. As the prices of fish, meat, eggs and most vegetables are still high, ordinary buyers are facing extreme hardship when they come to the market to shop.

On Friday (August 14), a visit to the raw chili markets in the capital’s Malibagh Railgate and Wireless Gate areas showed that raw chili is being sold at 200 to 260 taka per kg, depending on the market and quality. Whereas last week, the price of the same chili was 350 to 400 taka.

Vendors at the Malibagh Railgate raw chili market said that the supply in the market has increased after the import of raw chili from India started. As a result, the price has also come down a lot.

A vendor named Md. Monir said, “Although the price of chili has decreased slightly due to the start of imports, the supply of many vegetables is low due to the effect of continuous rains. As a result, their prices are still high.’

Meanwhile, a visit to the vegetable market showed that the price of brinjal has increased from 140 to 160 taka per kg, which was 120 taka last week. Round brinjal is being sold at 150 taka. In addition, cucumber is being sold at 100 to 120 taka, dhundal, gourd, patal, jhinga and chichinga at 80 to 100 taka, kachur lati at 90 to 110 taka, kachur mukhi at 70 to 80 taka and karla at 90 to 120 taka per kg.

Giasuddin, a job seeker who came to the market to shop, expressed regret and said, ‘500 taka is gone after buying two or three vegetables. After that, there is no point in buying fish and meat. I still don’t see the relief in the market.’

In the meat market, broiler chicken is being sold at 180 taka per kg, golden chicken at 350 taka and desi chicken at 650 taka. In the space of a week, the price of desi chicken has increased by 50 taka per kg. Apart from this, beef is being sold at a price of 780 to 800 taka per kg.

In the egg market, a dozen white eggs are being sold at 150 taka and red eggs at 150 to 170 taka, depending on the size.

The fish market is not far behind. Tilapia is being sold at 250 to 300 taka, pangas at 250 taka, rui-katla at 380 to 420 taka, and shrimp at 1,000 to 1,300 taka per kg, depending on the size.

Meanwhile, the price of hilsa has caught fire in the market. Hilsa weighing 900 grams to 1 kg is being sold at about 2,500 taka. And to buy 1 kg and 300 grams of hilsa, it is being sold at about 3,000 taka per kg.

However, in the rice market, the prices of other rice, except for polao rice, have been observed to be slightly lower. Polao rice is being sold at 200 taka in the market, atash rice at 60 taka, and miniket rice at 70 taka per kg.

According to market analysts and buyers, although raw chilies are cheaper due to imports, the high prices of other daily necessities are creating additional pressure on the common people. As a result, although the prices of one or two products have decreased, the overall market situation is still out of reach of consumers.