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Wholesale prices of few essentials decrease

Shaheen Mollah and Wasim Bin Habib
Wholesale prices of pulse, edible oil, flour and sugar fell significantly in the capital during the last week after their prices skyrocketed a couple of weeks earlier.
However, the easing prices on the wholesale markets are yet to make any considerable impact on the retail market.
In the meantime, prices of fish, chicken and egg continued to rise
on both wholesale and retail markets throughout the last couple of days.
The Daily Star correspondent during a visit to wholesale and retail markets in the city found extensive difference between wholesale and retail prices of pulses, edible oil, sugar, Hour and vegetables.
Retailers expected that the price difference would reduce in a few more days. The retail prices are not yet reflecting the falling trend at the wholesale markets because the commodi -Ues that are being sold now had been purchased from wholesale markets at higher prices earlier, explained the retailers.
The pnee of each 50 kg sack of pulse dropped by Tk 300 to Tk 500 in the last three days on the wholesale markets while the price of edible oil plummeted by Tk 600 per maund (3720 kg) in the last two weeks.
Price of sugar also came down by Tk 300 on each 50-kg sack at wholesale markets during the last week. The price of each 74 kg sack of flour also declined by Tk 300.
The falling wholesale price of sugar — down to Tk 1,700 from Tk 2,000 for a 50 kg sack in the last few days -- had a slight impact on the retail market yesterday.
Sugar was selling at Tk 38 to Tk 40 per kg yesterday while it was sold at Tk 40 to Tk 42 a week back.
A kg of high quality pulse --Australian Kangaroo and local variety, was sold at Tk 96 and Tk 94 respectively at wholesale markets a week ago. The Australian Kangaroo pulse was selling at Tk 88 a kg yesterday while the high quality local pulse price came down toTk 84 a kg.
A kg o(Turkish pulse was selling at Tk 74 to Tk 75 at the retail markets yesterday while the price of the same wasTk 82 a week ago.
Hasan Uddin, owner of Hasan and Sons at Rahmatganj Dal Patti, country's largest pulse market, told The Daily Star that falling prices on international market and the avail-ability of local pulses triggered the price decrease on the wholesale markets.
The wholesale prices of edible oil. flour and sugar also continued to fall during the last couple of days.
Non-brand soybean oil was selling for Tk 3,700 per maund at the * wholesale markets yesterday as opposed toTk 4,300 two weeks ago.
However, the retail price of nonbrand soybean oil was between Tk 105 andTk llOakg yesterday.
The wholesale prices of 'super palm' and palm oil were Tk 3,450 and Tk 3,300 per maund yesterday while the price was Tk 4000 and Tk 3900 two weeks back.
A kg of 'super palm' and palm oil was selling atTk 100 andTk95 per kg at the retail markets.
Abul Hashem, general secretary of Bangladesh Wholesale Edible Oil Merchants' Association and organising secretary of Bangladesh Wholesale Sugar Merchants’ Association, said reduced price .on
the international market and adequate supply of edible oil and sugar contributed to their falling prices.
Wholesale price of a 74-kg sack of flour dropped to Tk 3.000 from Tk 3,300 in the last couple of days, without making any impact on the retail market. A kg of flour was selling for Tk 44 to Tk 47 on the retail markets yesterday.
Flour wholesalers at Moulvibazar also said the price fall of wheat on the international market resulted the price decrease.
Fish prices increased by Tk 10 to Tk 100 per kg on both retail and wholesale markets, with hilsa being the priciest
Chicken (farm) prices yesterday jumped toTk85-Tk90 a kg fromTk 80 two days back. The price of domestic chickens also rose by Tk 10 to Tk 20 apiece yesterday
Egg prices spiked by Ik 1 per 'half (four eggs) on the retail markets last week. Eggs (farm) were selling at Tk 17 to Tk 20 per hall yesterday while regular eggs were selling at Ik 22 to Ik 24perhali.
UNB adds BDR Director General Maj Gen Shalol Ahmed yesterday urged the business leaders to import more and make less profit as a measure to help contain the spiraling prices.
“Though the food prices are high on the international market, the prices in Bangladesh are much higher in comparison to that It cannot be allowed to go. But we don't want to interfere, you should take immediate steps in this regard," he told the business leaders.
The BDR chief was exchanging views with the importers and leaders of various business forums at Moulvibazar Business Association office in Old Dhaka.
Director General of Rab Hasan Mahmud, army Dhaka zone operation officer Col Mujibul Haq. Badamtali Rice Traders' Association Secretary Haji Nizamuddin, Edible Oil Importers' Association Secretary Abul Hsahem and Sugar Importers' Association president Ali Asgar Kamal, among others, attended the meeting chaired by Moulavibazar Business Association President Abur Razzak
Assuring the businessmen of providing all possible help for import, storage and marketing their goods, Gen Shakil urged them to do business in a manner so that the common people do not suffer for unusual price hike.
In response, the business leaders called for formulating a specific policy for import, export, storage and