In Chaktai-Khatunganj, the prices of most daily commodities are unbridled due to syndicates. Due to the lack of supervision of the administration, the prices are not being controlled in any way. In Chaktai-Khatunganj, the price of onion is touching Tk 150. This time the price of sugar is also increasing. Sugar has increased by more than 100 rupees per bag. Eggs and potatoes are being sold at higher prices than the government fixed prices.
Even though the government has fixed the price of sugar, the importers and traders do not care. They are increasing the price of sugar and selling it. The sugar market has been held hostage by a few syndicates based in Chaktai-Khatunganj. The syndicate is destabilizing the sugar market by creating an artificial crisis. They are selling at a higher price than the fixed price. Meanwhile, packaged sugar has largely disappeared from the market. Consumers are in trouble due to the unstable situation in the sugar market. There is a demand to take appropriate measures to control the market. The price of onion is more than 125 rupees per kg. Similarly, the price of ginger is increasing without any reason. Meanwhile, Chittagong vegetable market continues to boom. No vegetable is available below 80 rupees. Potatoes are being sold at a price of more than 50 rupees per kg. Abnormal prices of daily commodities increase the living conditions of middle and low income people.
Those concerned said that there is an onion syndicate of 12 to 15 people in Chaktai-Khatunganj. They basically control the onion market. They are in constant contact with various importers in India and land ports of the country. The price of onion is increased in Chaktai-Khatunganj by mobile phone. On October 28, the Indian government fixed the onion price at $800 per ton. But the importers have increased the price in Chittagong before the import of the onion with increased price. They have taken crores of profit in two days by manipulating Artaddar. More than 50 rupees per kg profit is being made. A few days ago, the price of onion imported from India was Tk 90 to Tk 95 per kg. On Monday, the onion was sold at Tk 125 to Tk 130 per kg. A slightly lower quality onion is being sold at a price of more than 115 rupees per kg. Importers have not yet started importing onion at the price set by the Government of India. But the price of onion in the market has become unbridled.
Sugar has been added to the list of price hikes. Sugar traders of Chaktai-Khatunganj said that although the duty on sugar has been reduced, it has no effect on the market. On the contrary, the price of sugar is increasing. After the duty cut, traders reduced the supply of sugar. In the last three days, the price of open sugar in this market has increased by Tk 5 per kg. The price of sugar in the wholesale market is now Tk 132.
Apart from this, the prices of spices are also on the rise. Cumin seeds are being sold at Tk 800 to Tk 860 per kg, compared to Tk 700 to Tk 800 a week ago. At this time last year, cumin was Tk 400 to Tk 450 per kg. As such, the price of the product has almost doubled within a year. Last week, a kg of cloves was Tk 1400 to 1500. Khatunganj sugar trader Shahedul Islam told Jugantar that the importers have increased the price of sugar. He could not say why it was extended.
Market price: There is no sign of reduction in the price of winter vegetables in the market. A few days ago, the price of most vegetables was more than 80 rupees per kg. Barbati and beans are still more than 100 rupees per kg. The price of brinjal has decreased slightly, from Tk 90 to Tk 120 per kg. Patol 80, Lati 70, Dhundal 90, Dhendash 100, Tita karla are being sold at Tk 100. There is no relief in the fish market either. Rui 300 per kg, Katla 300 to 320, Shing 550, Tengra 450, Kai 250 and Shrimp 700 per kg are being sold in the market. Pabda 400, tengra 450, horn and sea coral 500 taka, kai 260 and pangas 240 taka are being sold per kg. Moreover, broiler chicken is selling at 215 to 220, cock 340 and Pakistani layer 320 per kg in the meat market. Beef is being sold at Tk 780 to Tk 800 and Khasi Tk 1100 per kg.
