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Hoarding side of hartal

Some traders stock vegitables to hike prices further from 2nd day of 60-hour hartal

Sohel Parvez
A section of traders of the capital's wholesale depots have started hoarding vegetables to make extra bucks banking on supply disruption due to the ongoing shutdown.
Yesterday, during late afternoon hours, vegetables such as brinjal, radish, cucumber, papaya and bitter gourd were seen stockpiled in sacks and bundles at some wholesale depots in Karwan Bazar.
Those who are hoarding said they wanted to
sell the vegetables at higher prices, as there were chances of supply cut for the shutdown that began from Monday.
" It is quite certain that prices will go up, as not many trucks would dare to ply the roads taking
FROM PAGE 16 the risk of vandalism and violence," said Md Shakhawat Hossain, a wholesale trader found passing idle hours at a warehouse stuffed with sacks of brinjal.
Early Sunday, he along with some other traders brought in more than 12 tonnes (one tonne = 1,000 kg) of brinjal to Karwan Bazar from the northern district of Bogra. With transport and other costs, each kilogram of brinjal cost them Tk 37, said Helal Uddin, a mate of Shakhawat.
Yesterday morning, they sold nearly 4 tonnes of brinjal at a rate of Tk 42 and decided to stop for the day expecting poor supply would shoot up prices from today.
"If any truck agrees to transport goods, it would charge a very high fare, putting an effect on the prices, said Shakhawat, adding that it meant, prices
of brinjat may go up to Tk 50 a kg.
His friend Helal thinks that the price hike would depend on the turnout of customers and the demand.
However, if everything goes according to plan, they would make a jackpot profit of Tk 1,04,000, which would put extra pressure on customers.
Shamsul Islam, a trader who brought in cucumber to the capital from Sherpur, and vegetable retailer Mohaiminul Islam of Karwan Bazar are also eyeing to make a bounty from the possible hike in cucumber and radish prices.
"Not all vegetables can be kept on hold as they are perishable. But the quality of my cucumbers will not be compromised if I hoard them for a day," said Shamsul.
Meanwhile, retailer Mohaiminul yesterday kept a 120-kg sack of radish intact and was found selling other vegetables, like beans,
brinjal, papaya and green chilli.
He claimed of purchasing radish at Tk 28 a kg yesterday. "The price of radish is on the rise," he argued for his hoarding of goods, adding that he hoped to sell the vegetables at Tk 35 per kg today (Tuesday), as supply had declined.
At retail level, many commoners felt the effect of shutdown on vegetables and other commodities.
Retailers were found asking higher prices for potato, cauliflower, cabbage, brinjal, tomato and bitter gourd on the grounds of inadequate supply for the shutdown and higher transportcosts.
The price of potato rose to Tk 18-20 from its Thursday price of Tk 16-18.
Mohammad Momin, a retailer at Motijheel, said vegetables prices soared between Tk 5 to Tk 10 a kg or per piece yesterday from the previous day.