The prices of some of the essential commodities, including onion, potato, aubergine, tomato, broiler chicken, beef, and dates, witnessed a further rise at the start of the Muslim fasting month Ramadan in the kitchen markets of the capital city.

The government data showed that most of the essential commodities were being sold at higher prices than the logical retail prices in the city markets.

State-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh data showed that the prices of potato, broiler chicken, imported onion, ginger, beef and dates increased by Tk 5 to Tk 50 a kilogram in the past three days.

The price of potato increased by Tk 5 a kilogram as the item sold for Tk 35 a kilogram while imported onion, which was sold for Tk 115–120 a kilogram on Tuesday, saw an increase of Tk 10 a kilogram.

The price of broiler chicken increased by Tk 15-20 a kilogram to Tk 210–220 a kilogram while beef increased by Tk 10–30 a kilogram and was sold for Tk 730–780 a kilogram on the day, TCB data showed.

The price of ginger increased by Tk 20–50 per kilogram and was sold for Tk 200–250 per kilogram.

Prices of average slandered dates increased by Tk 30 a kilogram, and the items sold for Tk 280–450 a kilogram on the city markets on Tuesday.

Commerce ministry on Tuesday set the maximum retail prices for average standard dates and lower graded dates.

As per the announcement of the ministry, the prices of the average standard, namely Zahidi dates, have been set at Tk 170-180 a kilogram while the prices for lower-graded dates at Tk 150-165 a kilogram.

State minister for commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu on Tuesday said that there was no shortage of essential commodities in the market and the government was trying to give consumers comfort in terms of prices.

The commerce ministry is working with other ministries, including the agriculture, livestock, and industries ministries, in supervising markets to ensure an available supply and affordable prices of the commodities, the state minister said.

‘Today, I have discussed with the agriculture ministry ensuring available supply. Our commerce ministry will monitor the market to strengthen the value chain,’ Titu said.

According to the Department of Agricultural Marketing, most of the essential commodities were sold at higher prices in the retail markets than the logical prices.

DAM estimates the logical retail prices of agricultural products by calculating production costs, transport costs, and profit for producers and wholesalers.

DAM data showed that the logical retail price of fine quality rice should be Tk 54.58 a kilogram, but the staple food was sold for Tk 65–80 a kilogram in the city markets.

It estimated the logical price of local onion at Tk 70 a kilogram but the item was sold for up to Tk 100 a kilogram.

The logical price of a gram should be Tk 91 per kilogram, whereas the item is sold for Tk 105–115 per kilogram.

DAM estimated the logical prices of aubergine and tomato at Tk 55 a kilogram and Tk 30 a kilogram, respectively, but the items were sold for up to Tk 120 and Tk 70 a kilogram, respectively.

The state minister for commerce blamed the middleman for increasing the prices of seasonal items in the market.

‘We are trying to bring the middlemen under regulation to keep the prices of seasonal items stable,’ he said.

DAM found the logical retail prices of broiler chicken are Tk 175 a kilogram and beef are Tk 656 a kilogram, whereas the items are sold for Tk 220-230 a kilogram and Tk 760 a kilogram, respectively.

Based on the recommended price of refiners, DAM estimated the logical price of sugar at Tk 130 a kilogram, but the item was sold for Tk 140–142 a kilogram, agriculture ministry data showed.