Onion and potato market in Chittagong is controlled by syndicate. Due to the manipulation of the syndicate, the market of these two products is not getting stable. The district administration has formed a task force but is unable to stop the syndicate. Potato and onion prices have increased more than last week. Potatoes have increased by Tk 8 to Tk 10 per kg in the retail market in the city. In the retail market, desi onion was sold at Tk 130 to 140 per kg. Imported onions are being sold at Tk 120 to 125 per kg. Which has increased by more than 10 rupees per kg compared to last week. On Wednesday, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has completely withdrawn the duty-tax on the import of onions to control the prices of onions and potatoes. But still there is no effect on the price. The upside is growing. Along with onion and potato, the price of rice has also increased. However, the price of winter vegetables has decreased slightly.
On the other hand, potato farmers say that potatoes are almost finished in various fields of North Bengal. Because of this, wholesalers or wholesalers have increased the price of potatoes. As a result, the price is increasing.
Officials of the district administration say that the task force committee formed under the leadership of the district administration has strengthened the market monitoring to keep the prices of daily commodities under control in Chittagong. Not only at the district level, but also at the upazila level, the task force committee is extensively monitoring the market. Besides, the district administration is also running mobile courts. The current government's directive is to break the syndicate at any cost and bring the commodity prices to normal levels. Taskforce members are monitoring various markets on a daily basis. They are not yet showing maximum rigor. The task force will enforce the law more stringently in the coming days if prices do not return to normal from abnormal conditions. If necessary, the business will be sealed.
The concerned said that supply of onion in Chaktai-Khatunganj is normal. But due to the syndicate, the price of onion is not decreasing even though the customs duty has been withdrawn. The importers are selling to the wholesalers of Chaktai-Khatunganj at higher prices. Because of this, wholesalers are selling at higher prices to retailers.
Despite being imported, the price of onion in the market has increased again. Importers have increased the price of onion without any reason. In the space of a week, onions are being sold at a higher price of Tk 10 to Tk 15 per kg in the retail market of the city. Domestic onion is being sold at Tk 130 to 140 per kg standard and imported onion at Tk 120 to 125 per standard. Domestic onion is being sold at a price of more than 125 rupees in the wholesale market. Imported onions are being sold at Tk 110 to Tk 115. But there is more or less 5 rupees depending on the standard.
Like onion, the price of potato has also increased. The price of potatoes has increased in Riyazuddin Bazar despite the availability of warehouses. Potatoes are being sold at 65 to 70 taka in the retail market. But last week the price of potato was 55 to 60 taka. Potato supply is normal. In addition, the import duty on potatoes has been completely withdrawn. But due to strong syndicates in the potato market, prices are not falling.
Shamim Hossain, a potato dealer in Riyazuddin Bazar, said, 'There is no denying that there is a syndicate in the potato market. Apart from the syndicates, the prices of potatoes are increasing at the freezer gate, which has an impact at the consumer level. The farmer's house potatoes are almost finished. Storage in the freezer is also at the last stage. Moreover, the farmers have picked potatoes early in the hope of more profit in the season. This is why the yield has decreased. Generally, early varieties of potatoes come to the market in November. Due to heavy rain this time, the farmer could not plant the seeds on time. Early potato planting has been delayed by two weeks due to non-availability of seeds from the government on time. There are also these reasons for increasing the price of potatoes.
The price of rice has also increased from Tk 100 to Tk 150 per sack (50 kg). In Pahartali and Chaktai wholesale rice markets, unscrupulous mill owners and artaddars have increased the prices of all types of rice. Coarse rice increased more. Coarse rice (Gutiswarna and China Iri) is now being sold at Tk 53 to Tk 56 per kg in different markets of the city. Medium rice (BR-28 and Payjam) 60 to 65 per kg and thin rice (Miniket and Nazirshail) 70 to 80 per kg. But there is no logical reason to increase the price of rice.
Market price: The price of vegetables has come down in the winter market. In the raw market of the city, dhandal, dhundal at Tk 60 per kg, patol at Tk 50 per kg, tomato at Tk 120 to Tk 150, beans at Tk 100 to Tk 120, long brinjal at Tk 70, bitter gourd at Tk 60 to Tk 70, cucumber at Tk 70, kachumukhi at Tk 70. Fish supply increased as sea fishing began. Apart from pangas-telapia, all other fish are being sold at 180 to 300 taka per kg. Pangas 150 Taka, Tilapia 160 Taka, Laitya 170-180 Taka, Kai fish 200 Taka and Rui 250-300 Taka. Different types of prawns are being sold from Tk 650 to Tk 1200 per kg.
