Vegetable Prices Surge in Dhaka Amid Rain, Supply Shortage, and Durga Puja Holidays

The prices of most vegetables and green items saw another round of increases this week, driven by prolonged rainfall and reduced supply during the Durga Puja holidays.

On Friday, green chillies were sold at Tk 300–350 per kilogram at several major kitchen markets in Dhaka, including Kalyanpur Natun Bazar, Agargaon Taltala, and Karwan Bazar. Just a week earlier, they had been selling for Tk 160–200 per kg.

Traders explained that excessive rainfall across the country and a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal damaged crops, including those planted on higher ground. Additionally, imports through land ports remained suspended for about eight days due to the festival, further tightening supplies.

Md Bulbul, owner of Green Chilli Arat 17 at Karwan Bazar, said that large volumes of chillies were ruined as farmers could not harvest them on waterlogged land. He added that imports were halted during Durga Puja, which caused prices to skyrocket. Prices may ease once supply normalises, possibly from Sunday, he hoped.

Prices of Other Vegetables

• Spiny gourd: Tk 60–80 per kg (unchanged)

• Pointed gourd: Tk 60–70 per kg

• Okra: Tk 70–80 per kg

• Yardlong beans & bitter gourd: Tk 100–120 per kg (up from Tk 80–90)

• Aubergine: Tk 100–120 per kg (previously Tk 80–100)

• Red chillies: Tk 350–500 per kg (variant-dependent)

• Cucumber: Tk 60–80 per kg

• Tomatoes: Tk 120–140 per kg

• Potatoes: Tk 20–25 per kg

• Papaya: Tk 30 per kg

• Taro runner: Tk 50–60 per kg

• Taro stem: Tk 40–50 per kg

• Bottle gourd: Tk 40–60 each

• Garlic (local): Tk 100–130 per kg

• Garlic (imported): Tk 200 per kg

• Ginger: Tk 130 per kg

Neighborhood markets in Dhaka charged Tk 10–20 more per unit compared to wholesale markets.

Consumer Concerns

Shoppers expressed frustration at the persistent high prices. Tareque Hasan, a private-sector employee, said traders always blamed rain, suggesting that “every rainfall means another round of price hikes.” He called for stronger government monitoring.

Md Imran, president of Bangladesh Kachamal Arat Malik Samity, explained that prolonged rainfall left farmland waterlogged, ruining both lowland and upland chilli crops. As a result, the country has become dependent on imports, which were suspended during Durga Puja. He added that prices should ease once new crops are harvested and supply improves.

Other Food Prices

• Eggs: Tk 130–135 per dozen, down from Tk 150 three weeks earlier

• Broiler chicken: Stable at Tk 170–180 per kg

• Onions: Tk 70–80 per kg

• Packaged atta: Tk 65–70 per kg; unpackaged Tk 52

• Packaged maida: Tk 75 per kg; unpackaged Tk 65

• Miniket rice: Tk 75–84 per kg (variant-based)

• Paijam/Athash rice: Tk 60–70 per kg

• Coarse rice: Tk 55–60 per kg

• Packaged soybean oil: Tk 190 per litre; 5-litre bottle Tk 922

• Unpackaged soybean oil: Tk 176 per litre

• Palm oil: Tk 166 per litre

• Beef: Tk 750–800 per kg

• Mutton: Tk 1,100–1,200 per kg

The government recently approved a Tk 1 per litre increase in edible oil prices, though refiners had sought a Tk 10 rise.

Fish Prices

• Hilsa: Tk 1,300–3,000 per kg (size-based, with prices rising ahead of the 22-day hilsa ban starting Saturday)

• Boal: Tk 750–900 per kg

• Ruhi (farmed): Tk 380–450 per kg

• Katla: Tk 380–480 per kg

• Tilapia: Tk 180–220 per kg

• Pangas: Tk 180–230 per kg

• Koi: Tk 200–220 per kg

• Pabda & Shing: Tk 400–500 per kg

Official Observations

A letter from the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission to the commerce ministry earlier in September acknowledged that prolonged monsoon rains had sharply pushed up prices of vegetables, chillies, eggs, and onions.

Meanwhile, the General Economics Division of the Planning Commission projected that rice prices could fall in the coming months as fresh harvests arrive.