Life in Dinajpur remains disrupted by biting cold, but the real heat is now in the potato market, where prices of new potatoes have jumped sharply over the past few days.
Retail prices of new potatoes in the district have risen by Tk10 to Tk25 per kg within two days, pushing many households to switch to old potatoes, which are still selling at Tk12 per kg.
In local markets, Staris-7 new potatoes are now selling at Tk30 per kg, up from Tk15 just two days ago, while local round varieties are priced between Tk35 and Tk45 per kg and white Chollisha at around Tk40 per kg.
The situation is worse in neighbourhood shops, where new potatoes are being sold at Tk40 to Tk60 per kg depending on variety, even as old potatoes remain unchanged at Tk12 per kg.
Market observers point to three main reasons behind the sudden spike, including a mild cold wave that has persisted across the district for seven consecutive days, according to the Dinajpur Weather Office.
Severe cold and dense fog have kept field workers away, slowing the lifting of early potato varieties and sharply reducing market supply.
A large share of harvested potatoes is also being transported directly to Dhaka by truck, tightening availability in local markets.
Farmer Afsar from Ghughudanga said growers are selling potatoes from the field at no more than Tk20 per kg, but prices double by the time the produce reaches retail markets due to multiple layers of middlemen.
With new potato prices now out of reach, low- and middle-income buyers are relying almost entirely on old potatoes for daily consumption.
At Bahadur Bazar, shopper Huchhen Ali said he skipped new potatoes and instead bought five kilograms of old potatoes for Tk60 to make it last several days.
Wholesaler Ajgar Ali said limited supply has forced many shops to close intermittently, as larger traders divert most of their stocks to meet demand in Dhaka, leaving old potatoes as the only option for local buyers.
