Impacts of fuel price hike, higher transportation cost: Essentials dearer

The prices of most of the essential items have jumped up further in the capital's kitchen markets in the wake of increased fuel price.
The increased price index would definitely impose further financial burden on the customers who are already reeling under high prices of daily necessities including rice.
The soaring commodity prices have hit the country's economy that fuelled inflation and affected the consumers, market experts said. Rice prices have increased by Tk 2 to Tk 3 per kg while prices of soybean oil have gone up by Tk 8 per kg yesterday and their high prices are attributed to fuel price hike.

The price index of other necessary items in ordinary markets has also shown an upward trend yesterday.

Rice traders in the city markets said high transport fare due to fuel price hike has pushed up the price of rice. They also said that the current rainfalls have also been hampering rice production in the mills and hindering smooth supply of rice to the city markets.

They, however, hoped that the prices of rice might be come down to a tolerable level once the mills resume smooth production of rice. Customers in the city markets said that they are already overburdened with the high prices of rice and other essential items.

Middle and low-income people are apprehending that they might not be able to manage two square meals a day if this high trend of prices continued unabated. They said the new budget had little impact in containing the price hike.

They demanded of the Government to monitor the volatile market situation so that businessmen can not intentionally increase the prices of essential items.

The coarse variety of rice 'lata' was sold at Tk 33 to Tk 34 yesterday which was Tk 32 to Tk 33, 'minicate' between Tk 42 and Tk 44 which was Tk 38 to Tk 40 , 'nazirshail' (depending on variety) from Tk 42 to Tk 44 which was Tk 40 to Tk 42, BR-28 at Tk 36 to Tk 37 which was Tk 35 and BR-29 at Tk 37 to Tk 38 which was Tk 36 and 'sarna' Tk 36 and Tk 38 which was Tk 34 to Tk 36 per kg in the retail markets. Per kg of soyabean oil was sold at Tk 118 to Tk 120 yesterday, which was at Tk 112 to Tk 114 per kg in the last week, and palm oil was sold from 106 to Tk 108 yesterday.

In the retail markets per kg of local variety of lentil (masur) was selling from Tk 108 to Tk 110 which which was between Tk 98 and Tk 102 per kg. Imported lentil was sold at Tk 105 per kg that was Tk 96 per kg in the last week.

The prices of most vegetable items were selling within the purchasing power of the common people.

The price of different types of fish still remain high as Ruhi was selling from Tk 150 to Tk 180 per kg, medium size Hilsha from Tk 280 to Tk 350. Prices of beef was at Tk 190 to Tk 200, while mutton from Tk 260 to Tk 280 per kg. And Per hali (4-pieces) of eggs was between Tk 28 and Tk 26 which was 22 and Tk 24.[/justify]