The price of onions has doubled in the peak season. Onions, which used to cost Tk 30-35, are being sold at Tk 70 in the retail market. Although the onion market was under control during Ramadan, information has revealed from different sources about why its price suddenly doubled per kilogram within two weeks.
Those who buy onions directly from farmers for supply in the market have started illegally hoarding them instead of releasing them in the market. The gang is trying to create instability in the market by bringing up the pretext of stopping onion imports from India. They want to send a message to the government that it is not possible to meet the country's demand without Indian onions. And as part of this conspiracy, they have started illegally hoarding the full-season onions produced in the country.
Since Ramadan, the price has been gradually increased and has now doubled. More alarming information is that this syndicate has already started its malicious efforts to increase the price of local onions above Tk 100 within 2-3 months. In such a reality, market analysts have given several
suggestions to keep the onion market tolerable like during Ramadan.
The same formula that the interim government used to control market management during Ramadan should be applied for other times. It is important to increase intelligence activities and identify those who are stabbing the government in the back to make it an enemy of the people.
Meanwhile, despite adequate supply in the market, the vendors are also raising the prices of vegetables. They are following the old path of strategically increasing the prices and snatching money from the pockets of the common people. The prices of some vegetables have reached Tk 80. Some vegetables are being sold for more than Tk 100.
Talking to the sellers, it was learned that before Eid, that is, during Ramadan, they bought local onions at a price of Tk 30-35 per kilogram. After Eid, they bought them at Tk 40 and later at a maximum of Tk 50. On Thursday, the price was increased by Tk 5 per kilogram to Tk 55. And on Friday, on the holiday, information was received that the same onions were sold at a maximum of Tk 65-70.
At the capital's wholesale market, Kawran Bazar, local onions are being sold for Tk 50-55 per kg, which was Tk 40-45 a week ago. During Ramadan, they were sold for Tk 25-30 per kg. Wholesaler at the market, Md. Maqbul, said that the old syndicate has raised its head to put the Dr. Muhammad Yunus government in trouble. Capitalizing on the excuse of stopping imports from India, the onion market has started to become unstable.
They are planning to double the current price per kg in July. As part of this, the gang is said to be illegally hoarding onions from the peak season. A large part of the country's demand is met from domestic 'hali' onions. These onions are cultivated till January. It takes till the first week of March-April to be picked from the field and brought to the market. As such, the onion season is not over yet. However, in the meantime, the prices are being increased day by day. He said that wholesalers are bringing them at a higher price and selling them at a higher price. Which is affecting the retail market.
Meanwhile, in the capital's retail market, several vegetables are being sold at a price of Tk 60 per kg, but the prices of some vegetables have reached Tk 80. Several vegetables are also being sold at over Tk 100. Talking to the vendors, it is learnt that beans are being sold at 70 taka per kg, radish at Tk 60, cucumber at Tk 80, kankrol at Tk 120-140, bitter gourd at Tk 60, tomatoes at Tk 40 and sweet pumpkin at Tk 30. In addition, dal is being sold at Tk 70 per kg, dhundul at Tk 100, jhinga at Tk 100, round brinjal at Tk 100, long brinjal at Tk 80, patal at Tk 70, kachur lati at Tk 80, barbatiat Tk 80, chichinga at Tk 70, greenchilli at Tk 100 and papaya at Tk 60. Along with this, gourd is being sold at Tk 60 per piece, raw banana at Tk 40 per hali, lemon at Tk 20-30 per hali depending on the quality, potato at Tk 35-40 per kg and carrot at Tk 60-65 per kg.
Md. Shakil, who came to Malibagh Raw Market to buy daily necessities on holidays, said, "The market has started to be unstable again. There was a kind of relief in the market during Ramadan and Eid. Suddenly, unscrupulous people are increasing the prices of products and causing havoc. The onion that I used to buy for Tk 30-35, I now buy for Tk 65. The price of vegetables is on fire. We cannot control it. The government should continue to control the market in the same way it supervised and controlled it during Ramadan and Eid. This will make consumers like us feel at least a little relieved. Because everyone has trust in the Yunus government. If the product syndicates cannot be caught during his tenure, then it will be a failure of the government."
SM Nazer Hossain, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), told Daily Industry that the government should have information about who is controlling the commodity market now. Those who are trying to create instability in the market by suddenly increasing the prices of commodities should be identified and brought under strict punishment in public. Because, the extent of relief that has prevailed in the market during Ramadan and Eid has been discussed in all quarters. The interim government should be proactive to maintain this relief. This will benefit the consumers.
Sources at the National Consumer Rights Protection Department said that the agency has decided to conduct three-level surveillance to identify those responsible for increasing onion prices.
