Prices of spices on fire around Eid

Zarif Mahmud: Eid al-Adha is just one day later. Around this Eid, the spice market has been disrupted for about two and a half months. Selling at extra cost.
The situation is such that the buyer has to spend a maximum of Tk 4,200 to buy one kg of cardamom, which was Tk 1500-2100 at the same time last year. Besides, one has to buy Tk 90-95 per kg of onions, which was Tk 60 even a month ago.
Apart from this, prices of turmeric, ginger-garlic, cumin, cloves, cinnamon among other spice products have also increased abnormally. This has increased the desire of buyers to buy these products around Eid.
On Friday, he was seen walking around the capital’s retail market talking to buyers and sellers.
Vendors said that cardamom was sold at Tk 3,500-4,200 per kg on Friday, compared to Tk 1,500-2,100 at the same time last year. Cloves are being sold at Tk 1800 per kg, which was Tk 1400-1500 earlier. Cinnamon is being sold at Tk 600 per kg, compared to Tk 520 at the same time last year. Desi ginger is being sold at a maximum of Tk 450 per kg, which was Tk 350 earlier. Local turmeric is being sold at Tk 400 per kg, which was Tk 280 at the same time last year. Imported turmeric is being sold at Tk 300 per kg, which was Tk 230 earlier.
Talking to the sellers, it is said that the imported dry chillies are being sold at Tk 500, which was Tk 460 earlier. Local garlic is being sold at Tk 220, which was Tk 140 during Qurbani Eid last year. Besides, imported garlic is being sold at Tk 240 per kg, which was Tk 150 earlier. In the retail market, desi onion is being sold at Tk 90-95 per kg, which was sold at Tk 80 a week ago. And a month ago it was sold for 60 rupees.
Kawran market in the capital to buy daily products Zakir Hossain said, I have come to buy some spice products around Eid. But the price of all kinds of masala products in the market is very high. Every year with the arrival of Eid al-Adha, the sellers syndicate and increase the price of spices. This time also the same picture is seen. But the regulatory body is kind of silent. No one is saying anything. It has become a norm. But the consumer’s pocket is being cut.
About the increase in the price, the spice seller Imamul Haque of the same market saidthat the prices of all kinds of spices have been increased in the wholesale market. But there is no shortage of masala products in the wholesale market. We have to buy at a higher price because the sellers are selling at higher prices. It has to be sold at a higher price.
However, President of Bangladesh Wholesale Garam Masala Traders Association Enayet Ullah said that the price of other spices has not increased compared to the import cost but is still low. Only the price of cardamom is a little higher. Because most cardamom comes from India. Due to the heat this year, the production has decreased. Now the dollar is worth more. Spice prices are high worldwide. Transportation costs have increased in the import of spices. Due to these reasons, the price has increased.

He also said that retailers are selling at slightly higher prices.
Meanwhile, apart from spices, the prices of cucumber, tomato and carrot among salad ingredients have been increased in view of Eid. Cucumbers are being sold at Tk 100 per kg, which was Tk 80 seven days ago. Similarly, the price of tomatoes has increased. It is being sold at Tk 120 per kg. Old carrots are being sold at Tk 80 per kg and new carrots at Tk 140. And lemon is being sold at Tk 20-30 taka.
Director General of National Consumer Protection Directorate AHM Safikuzzaman said that although there is no increase in prices, the prices of some products are being increased by manipulating the market irrationally. As seen in past fasting, markets were kept volatile by capitalizing on demand for certain commodities. Similarly, the price of garam masala increases when Eid al-Adha comes. The price of garam masala has increased by 70 percent in the last one month. The price should not increase like this. Then there must be some manipulation in the market. People have many complaints about it. Strict action is being taken if anyone increases the prices unreasonably.