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Second Day into Shutdown

Vegetable prices go up further

Staff Correspondent
The common man is the one who has to count out extra bucks for essential commodities, as the ongoing shutdown is fuelling prices by disrupting the supply chain throughout Bangladesh.
In kitchen markets across Dhaka, prices of almost all vegetables soared by Tk 5-Tk 20 a kilogram despite a thin presence of customers.
People in Chittagong also felt the pinch
of increased rice and vegetable prices, as transporters refused to run vehicles on the roads for risks of arson and vandalism by picketers.
In Moulvibazar district, prices of rice and onions rose for a supply shortage.
The price of cooking oil and flour in Dinajpur also shot up as supply, mainly from Dhaka, came to a halt.
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In addition, the supply of other essential commodities like cooking oil and sugar also remained disrupted for the second day, creating a scope for traders and retailers in the towns and suburbs to charge extra.
Prices of seasonal vegetables in Dhaka such as beans shot up by Tk 20, to stand at Tk 80 a kilogram.
The prices of bitter gourd became Tk 70 a kilogram, rising by Tk 10. Eggplants also rose by Tk 10 to stand at Tk 60 a kilogram; radishes became Tk 40 from Tk 30.
Prices of cucumbers, cauliflowers, cabbages, and green chillies also shot up for scanty supplies, said retailers.
"It seems like I have to pay a fine to consume vegetables during the shutdown," said an annoyed Abul Khalque in Wari, after giving in to the retailer's high demand forTk 80 fora kilogram of beans.
Abdul Quadir, the vegetables retailer, said he in turn had to buy the vegetables at
high prices from the wholesalers. “The supply of cauliflower is even dearer. ”
However, the excuse of a low supply was not true for all traders. Many traders and retailers hoarded a high quantity of vegetables to make bigger profits duringthe hartals.
Mohammad Mamum bought cauliflowers early Monday and sold a piece at Tk 40 on Tuesday, which is Tk 30 more than the amount he sold at the day before.
The price of another seasonal vegetable, cabbages, also went up to Tk 40 a piece yesterday, up from Tk 25-Tk 30 on Monday.
"Many customers even get so annoyed at the prices that they go back without buying anything," said Mohammad Alamin, a vegetable retailer in Motijheel.
Ismail Hossain, who sells vegetables at AGB Colony kitchen market in Motijheel, said the shutdown took a toll on his sales because of a low turnout of customers.
Ratan Mia, a Hilsha retailer in the same
market, said he offered reduced prices to attract more customers, but sales still dipped low.
Uttam Kumar Das, a fish retailer in Karwan Bazar, said the supply disruption created a price spiral.
A similar picture of a low turnout of customers and higher prices was also seen at kitchen markets in Palashi and New Market.
" My daily sales figure has been cut by half due to the hartal," said Mohammed Rubel, a trader in the Palashi Kitchen Market.
The wholesale trade for commodities such as rice, cooking oil and sugar also came to a complete stop for a lack of customers.
"Sales are almost nil because of a lack of customers for the shutdown," said Volanath Das, a rice trader in the wholesale market of Babubazar.
Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, president of Moulvibazar Wholesalers Association, also shared the same experience.