The supply of winter vegetables in Dhaka’s markets has increased, bringing back price stability after several weeks of volatility. However, the onion market has suddenly turned unstable, with prices rising sharply within a short period. Traders report that the price of locally produced onions has jumped by Tk 40 per kilogram in the span of just one week. They expect prices to ease soon as new-season onion shoots have already started entering the market.
Currently, old stock local onions are selling at Tk 110 to Tk 120 per kilogram, compared with Tk 70 to Tk 80 only two weeks ago. Meanwhile, the newly harvested onion shoots now available in the market are being sold at Tk 80 to Tk 100 per kilogram. In contrast, the supply of winter vegetables has grown steadily, leading to a decline in prices of items such as beans, radish, cauliflower, cabbage and turnip. A visit to several markets across the capital on Friday morning reflected this overall trend.
Winter vegetables including cauliflower, cabbage, beans, radish, turnip and early-season eggplants are now available in large quantities. Depending on size, cauliflower and cabbage are selling for Tk 30 to Tk 50 each. Beans are priced at Tk 70 to Tk 80 per kilogram. With increased supply, the price of new eggplants has fallen to Tk 60 to Tk 70 per kilogram. Turnip is selling at Tk 60 to Tk 80 and radish at Tk 40 to Tk 60 per kilogram, while new-season green tomatoes are priced at Tk 80 to Tk 100.
Vendors say the growing availability of winter vegetables is pushing down the prices of older seasonal varieties. Papaya has dropped to Tk 20 to Tk 30 per kilogram. Summer vegetables such as pointed gourd are now selling at Tk 40 to Tk 60, and in some markets even lower. Ash gourd and bottle gourd are available at around Tk 50 each. Bitter gourd is selling at Tk 60 to Tk 70 and okra at Tk 50 to Tk 60 per kilogram.
The price of farm eggs has also decreased by Tk 10 to Tk 20 per dozen. After climbing to Tk 150 per dozen last month, eggs are now selling for Tk 130 to Tk 140 in neighborhood markets. Broiler chicken is priced at Tk 170 to Tk 180 per kilogram, while the local “Sonali” variety is selling at Tk 280 to Tk 300.
In the fish market, the price of hilsa remains high. Hilsa weighing 300 grams is being sold at Tk 1,000, while 500-gram fish are priced at Tk 1,600. Larger hilsa weighing 700 grams are selling for Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,000, and one-kilogram hilsa are priced between Tk 2,200 and Tk 2,400 per kilogram.
Farmed catfish (shing) ranges from Tk 350 to Tk 550 per kilogram and local shing from Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,200. Rui is selling for Tk 400 to Tk 550, local magur at Tk 800 to Tk 1,000, mrigel at Tk 350 to Tk 400, farmed pangas at Tk 200 to Tk 230, and shrimp for Tk 800 to Tk 1,400 per kilogram. Boal is priced at Tk 600 to Tk 800, large katla at Tk 400 to Tk 550, tilapia at Tk 220, koi at Tk 220 to Tk 230 and mola fish at Tk 500 per kilogram.
Meanwhile, beef is selling at Tk 750 to Tk 780 per kilogram, beef liver at Tk 780, beef head meat at Tk 450 and tripe at Tk 350 to Tk 400 per kilogram. Mutton continues to be priced at Tk 1,200 per kilogram.
