With the arrival of winter, the supply of winter vegetables has started to increase in the markets of Chattagram, leading to a notable drop in prices.
Over the space of a week, the prices of several vegetables, including tomatoes, green chillies, coriander leaves, and beans, have fallen significantly, with coriander leaves dropping by Tk80 per kg and tomatoes by Tk60 per kg.
However, while the vegetable market offers some relief, there is no such comfort in the fish market, where most fish are being sold at comparatively higher prices due to increased demand on the weekly holiday.
This scenario was observed on Friday during visits to several markets in the city, including Karnafuli Complex at No 2 Gate, Bahaddarhat, Chawkbazar, and Kazir Dewri. Tomatoes are currently selling for Tk80 to Tk100 per kg, down from Tk140 last week, marking a drop of Tk40 to Tk60 per kg.
The price of green chillies has also fallen to Tk80–100 per kg from Tk120 a week ago. The steepest drop was recorded in the price of coriander leaves, which sold for Tk50–60 per kg on Friday compared to Tk140 last week. Bean prices have also decreased by Tk40–50 per kg, currently retailing at Tk70 to Tk80 per kg.
Sellers noted that prices are falling as the production and supply of winter vegetables begin to rise, adding that this downward trend may continue if supplies increase further.
In the market, small-sized cauliflowers and cabbages are selling for Tk35 to Tk40 each. Cucumbers are priced at Tk50–60 per kg, bitter gourd at Tk40–50 per kg, taro arum (kochur mukhi) at Tk40–45 per kg, yardlong beans at Tk50–60 per kg, and papaya at Tk20–25 per kg.
Additionally, okra is available at Tk40–50 per kg, pointed gourd at Tk20–25 per kg, and snake gourd and ridge gourd at Tk40–50 per kg, while potatoes are selling at Tk30 per kg.
In the egg market, broiler chicken eggs are selling at Tk130 per dozen and white broiler eggs at Tk125 per dozen, whereas duck eggs are selling at a slightly higher price of Tk200 per dozen.
Despite the price drop in the vegetable market, buyers found no relief in the fish market, where demand surged on Friday due to the weekly holiday. Sellers claimed that buyer attendance is higher on holidays compared to other days, impacting fish prices.
Abdur Rahman, a fish seller at Bahaddarhat, explained that fish prices rise every Friday because many people do their shopping on holidays, resulting in higher demand and buyer pressure in the market.
Medium-sized pangas, koi, and mrigal fish were sold for Tk220 to Tk300 per kg on Friday. Tilapia was selling at Tk230–250 per kg, tengra at Tk600 per kg, pabda at Tk320–350 per kg, medium-sized rui at Tk350–380 per kg, and katla at Tk400 per kg.
Furthermore, small galda prawns were priced at Tk800 to Tk1,000 per kg, jatka at Tk1,000 per kg, powa at Tk500 per kg, baila at Tk1,000 per kg, shing at Tk350 per kg, and local sarputi at Tk250 to Tk260 per kg.
In the meat market, broiler chicken was selling for Tk160 per kg, while layer and Sonali chickens were priced at Tk320 per kg.
