Retailers fix prices of essentials at will

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Retailers at different kitchen markets in the capital are charging prices of some essentials at will although the prices fell in the wholesale markets in the last two weeks.

Market sources said people are not getting the benefit of the reduced wholesale prices of pulses, flour, edible oil and sugar as the market monitoring system by the joint forces and the city corporation remained inactive for the last few weeks.

A high official of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) said since the prices of some commodities have dropped in the wholesale markets, it must have some impact on the retail market soon.

He, however, did not make any comment on market monitoring.

Most consumers meanwhile said they do not know that the prices of some commodities fell in the wholesale markets. They alleged that the retailers are taking advantage of the lack of publicity of the reduced prices.

At different wholesale and retail markets in the city, it was found that a huge difference is there between the wholesale and retail prices of pulses, flour, edible oil and sugar.

In the meantime, prices of chicken and egg continued to rise in both wholesale and retail markets throughout the last couple of days.

The prices of rice were stable in the last few days following the sharp rise in the previous three weeks despite the import of rice from India since Thursday.

Traders said the price of rice may decrease further from today.

The price of a 50kg sack of pulses dropped by Tk 50 in wholesale markets in the last three days. The price had fallen by Tk 300-500 the previous week but the decrease had no impact on its retail price.

The wholesale price of the local masur of better quality dropped to Tk 83 per kg this Thursday from the previous week’s Tk 94, but the pulses was still selling at Tk 95-100 per kg.

Traders at Rahmatganj Dal Patti, country’s largest wholesale market of pulses, told The Daily Star that the price has been decreasing every day in markets in Jessore, Faridpur and Rajshahi because of the availability of local varieties.

The wholesale price of a 74kg sack of local flour dropped to Tk 2,700 on Thursday from Tk 3,200 of two weeks ago, but the drop has not had any impact on the retail price. Flour was still selling at Tk 44-47 per kg, the same as a week ago.

A wholesaler at Karwan Bazar said the millers have been producing flour from local wheat that arrived in the market in the last two weeks, which caused the fall in its price.

Sugar was selling at Tk 34 per kg in wholesale market; the price was Tk 40 ten days ago. Its retail price was Tk 40-42 per kg which now stands at Tk 38-40.

The wholesale price of non-brand edible oil dropped by Tk 15-18 per kg but the price of branded soya bean oil did not see any decrease.

Non-brand soya bean oil was selling at Tk 3,680 per maund at wholesale markets yesterday; the price was Tk 4,300 around two weeks ago.

However, the retail price of non-brand soya bean oil was between Tk 105 and Tk 110 a kg yesterday.

Meantime, most retailers are selling super palm oil as soya bean oil while many retailers are selling edible oil in litres although they purchased it in kilograms (one litre equals to 900 gram).

A wholesaler at Moulvibazar said the retail price of a 5-litre jerry can of soya bean of most companies remained at Tk 514 for the last one month although the price came down by Tk 90-100.

The price of farm chickens yesterday jumped to Tk 95-100 per kg from the previous week’s Tk 75-80. The price of domestic chickens also rose by Tk 10-20 per piece in the last couple of days.

The price of eggs rose by Tk 2 per hali (four eggs) in retail markets last week. Eggs were selling at Tk 18-20 and Tk 22-24 per hali yesterday, depending on their variety.

Traders blamed short supply for the price hike of chickens.

Asked about the price situation, a customer at Anandabazar in Shahbagh area said, “I did not know that the prices of some commodities decreased. The grocers also did not tell me about it. I purchased pulses, sugar and soya bean oil at prices they were a week ago.”

A few retailers meanwhile refused to admit the price fall and said the prices are still the same at the wholesale markets. They gave reasons that they had bought the commodities from wholesale markets at higher prices.

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