Mango, litchi start appearing in Khulna markets

Khulna Bureau: With five days left to begin of the Bangla month of Jyestha, commonly known as “Modhumash”, the juicy fruit litchi and mango have started appearing in the local markets including Khulna city and its adjacent areas.
The fruit shops of Khulna are now brimming with delicious summer fruits. The price of litchis and mangoes are within the grasp of customers amid bumper production, with high demand in the city markets.
During a visit to several fruit retailers in the city yesterday, this reporter foundlh that varieties of mangoes like Gopalvog and Gobinda are being sold at Tk 110 to Tk 130 per kg whereas appearing early Himsagar is being sold hat Tk 130 to Tk 140 per kg. People are seen purchasing mango and litchi from fruit shop and different makeshift markets in the city.
Seasonal traders set up makeshift shops at different points in the city especially Boro Bazar, Clay Road, KCC’s Sandha Bazar (evening kitchen market) Dakbangla, Picture Palace intersection, Moyla Pota intersection, West Makwat Road, Gallamari, Rupsha Bazar, Bhairab Stand Road, Kalibari Road, KD Ghosh Road, New Market area, Khalishpur and Daulatpur kitchen markets with eye-catching fruits.
Meanwhile, varieties of litchi, including Bombai, Bedana, and China-3, were seen selling at reasonable prices.
Litchi seller Aziz Mia at KCC kitchen market told “Every bunch of 100 Bombai litchis is being sold from Tk 220 to Tk 340, Bedana from Tk 340 to Tk 400, and China-3 is being sold from Tk 270 to Tk 340 based on quality and size.”
The sellers said the price is high as the supply is scanty but the price will be reduced to some extent when the supply will be enhanced within the next couple of days.
Trader Mamun Hossain at the Boro Bazar area said today that many farmers are harvesting immature litchi with the hope of getting more money. Mizanur Rahman Liton, a customer expressed his satisfaction over the litchi prices.
Another customer, Saikat Mohammed Sohag, said “The prices are satisfactory, thanks to the large quantities of fruits in stock. I hope the prices will stay like this.”
The customers also demanded that the relevant authorities monitor and take proper measures if traders are found using harmful chemicals, such as formalin, to keep fruits from rotting.
As seasonal fruits have started hitting the market, customers are expecting to get formalin-free fruits. Fruits laced with formalin cause various diseases, including respiratory problems, asthma, gastric, and cancer.