The price of vegetables skyrocketed in the kitchen markets of the capital after the late autumn rain across the country damaged fields.

Prices of most of the vegetables increased by Tk 20 to 40 per kg and were found being sold at Tk 80 to Tk 120 per kg today.

Traders and wholesalers of Karwan Bazar, the biggest hub for vegetables in Dhaka, told UNB that early varieties of winter vegetables have started appearing in the market.

The price of the vegetables has gone up as the crop fields went underwater due to recent heavy rain, they said.

Vegetable fields were damaged in the neighbourhood of Dhaka, Narsingdi, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Tangail, Bogura, Jashore, and Kushtia, from where vegetables are mostly supplied to the capital, they added.

Sukkur Ali, a wholesale trader of Karwn Bazar said, due to the damage caused by heavy rains, he is receiving 3 to 4 vegetable-loaded trucks now. Usually, six to seven trucks arrive at his store.

This shortage of supply is pushing prices up in the wholesale and retail markets, said the trader.

While visiting different kitchen markets today, a UNB correspondent observed vegetables, fish, and broiler chicken and egg were being sold at high prices, causing hardship for middle and lower-income customers.

Vendors said due to supply shortage prices are relatively high. This price will come down when supply will increase during the winter, they added.

Eggplants were selling at Tk 120 per kg, brinjals (long) at Tk 90 to 100 per kg, green chillies at Tk 220 to 250 per kg based on quality, beans at Tk 200 per kg, tomatoes at Tk 100 to 120 per kg, carrots at Tk 100 to 120 kg, potatoes at Tk 50 to 55 kg, bitter gourds at Tk 80 to 90 kg, balsam apples at Tk 100 to 120 kg, okras at Tk 80 to 90 kg, cucumbers at Tk 80 to 90 kg, spone gourds at Tk 80 kg, arums at 80 to 90 kg, radishes at Tk 80 kg, green papayas at Tk 30 kg, French beans at Tk 100 to 120 kg, snake gourds at Tk 80 to 95 kg, pumpkins (medium size) at Tk 100 to 150 per piece, cauliflowers at Tk 50 to 55 piece, bottle gourds at Tk 70 to 100 per piece, ash gourds at Tk 60 to 70 per piece, coriander leaves at Tk 500 kg. Capsicums (red) at Tk 600 kg and capsicums (green) at Tk 400 to 450 per kg.

The local onions were selling at Tk 100 per kg, while the imported onions at Tk 80 to 90 kg. Imported garlic's price also rose and was selling at Tk 250 to 260 per kg, and local garlics at Tk 240 kg. Imported ginger marked a rise by Tk 30 per kg and was selling at Tk 260 to 280 per kg. The locally produced ginger was selling at Tk 200 to 250 per kg based on quality.

The price of red lentils remained high, and the fine variety of red lentils was selling at Tk 150 per kg while the imported item (coarse variety) was selling at Tk 140 per kg over the week.

Five litres of Rupchanda brand canned soybean oil is selling at Tk 860 while loose super palm oil at Tk 160 per litre.

Sugar was selling at Tk 120 to 140 per kg, molasses at Tk 200 to 300 and flattened rice at Tk 90 to 140 per kg based on quality.

The coarse rice was selling at Tk 52 to 56 per kg, Pyjam at Tk 60 to 64 kg, Nazirshail brand of rice at Tk 72 to 80 per kg, Minicate at Tk 66 to 68 per kg, Kattari Bhog at Tk 90 kg, Pillau rice (Badsha bhog) at Tk 140 to 155 per kg and Kalijira at Tk 130 to 140 per kg. Coarse flour was selling at Tk 70 to 85 per kg and a 2-kg packet at Tk 140 today in the kitchen market of Dhaka.

The prices of fishes have increased by Tk 40 to 80 per kg on the news of banning Hilsa catching by the government. Among other fishes, Puti was selling at Tk 400 per kg, live puti at Tk 500 kg, Kholisa at Tk 400 a kg, Chapila at Tk 500 a kg, cultivated koi at Tk 250 to 280 a kg, Fali Chanda (Rupchada) at Tk 1,400 a kg, Chanda small at Tk 400 kg, walking fish (Shoal) at Tk 500 to 600 per kg, Eel at Tk 700 to 900 kg, Meni at Tk 500 a kg, sheat (boal) at Tk 600 to 1200 per kg, Ek-thota (Kaitta fish) at Tk 600 to 650 kg, Coral fish at Tk 600 to 700 per kg, river Pangas at Tk 700 per kg, cultivated Pangas at Tk 200 to 250 per kg, Rajputi at Tk 450 per kg, Tilapia at Tk 240 kg, Ruhit at Tk 350 to 400 per kg, medium size carp (katol) at Tk 300-320 a kg, big size katol at Tk 400 to 500 per kg, local variety of Cat fish (Shing) at Tk 800 to 1000 per kg, barbel at Tk 600 a kg, lobster at Tk 800-1,000 a kg, and shrimp at Tk 500-600 a kg.

Beef is selling for Tk 780 to 800 per kg, and the mutton selling at Tk 1,150 to Tk 1,180. A medium size local cock was selling at Tk 450 to 500 per piece and hen at Tk 400 to 450. The broiler chicken price stands at Tk 180 to 200 per kg. The egg (farm) is selling at Tk 160 per dozen. Pigeon per pair is selling at Tk 300 to Tk 350.