Continuous rain and flooding have disrupted the capital’s kitchen markets, driving green chilli prices to Tk 350-400 a kilogram on Friday, depending on quality.

A week ago, the item was selling for Tk 280-300 a kilogram.

The surge in prices is not limited to green chillies. Except for papaya, pointed gourd, sponge gourd and okra, which were selling for under Tk 80 a kilogram on the day, almost all other vegetables are priced between Tk 80 and Tk 120 a kilogram.

Retail onion prices increased by Tk 10-15 a kilogram over the past week and were selling at Tk 55-65 on Friday depending on the quality, up from Tk 40-50 last week.

A visit to Jatrabari and Karwan Bazar wholesale markets, along with the Shantinagar kitchen market on Friday, showed the steep jump in prices of daily essentials.

Traders said that the continuous rainfall had disrupted supplies, while the harvesting season for several spice crops, including green chilies, was coming to an end and so, the resulting supply shortage had driven prices sharply higher.

Abul Kashem, a wholesaler at Jatrabari wholesale market, told New Age that supplies had declined while demand remained unchanged. He added that continuous rainfall had also damaged perishable items, particularly green chilies and onions, further pushing up prices.

The hike in prices have put consumers in a tight spot.

Rana Hamid, a private employee shopping at Jatrabari, said that rising prices had made it increasingly difficult to manage household expenses. He now visits wholesale markets to save money wherever possible.

He said that the prices of most vegetables had crossed Tk 100 a kilogram and called for stronger market supervision to prevent further increases.

On Friday, brown eggs were selling at Tk 145-155 a dozen, remaining high since last week, while the white variant was selling at Tk 140 a dozen.

Broiler  chicken was selling for Tk 190-210 a kilogram, same as last week, but Sonali chicken was selling at Tk 350-370 a kilogram

Although rice prices have not gone up over the past week, the staple has been selling at high prices for a prolonged period.

Miniket rice was selling at Tk 72-85 a kilogram depending on quality, while Paijam or Atash was selling at Tk 55-68 a kilogram and the coarse variety at Tk 55-60 a kilogram.

Unpackaged aromatic rice was selling at Tk 160-180 a kilogram, but the packaged variety was selling at Tk 220-240, depending on the brand.

Bitter gourd was selling at Tk 80-100 a kilogram, yardlong beans at Tk 120-130, okra at Tk 60-80 a kilogram, taro stem at Tk 80-100 a kilogram and taro runner at Tk 70-90 a kilogram, with most of these items’ prices increasing by Tk 10-20 per kilogram unit.

Cucumber was selling at Tk 180- 200 a kilogram, tomatoes at Tk 140-160 a kilogram and aubergine at Tk 120-150 a kilogram. The price of aubergine increased by Tk 30- 50 a kilogram within a week.

Garlic prices also increased to Tk 140 a kilogram for the local variety and Tk 200 a kilogram for the imported variety, up from Tk 120 and Tk 160 respectively two weeks ago, respectively.

Traders said that continuous rainfall had damaged vegetable fields in several districts, reducing supplies, while transport disruptions had delayed shipments to the capital.

Fish prices also remained high on Friday as heavy rain and flooding disrupted supplies from ponds and fish farms.

Farmed Ruhi and Katla were selling at Tk 400-450 a kilogram, tilapia at Tk 240-260, Pangas at Tk 220-250 and Pabda at Tk 400-450.

Farmed shrimp was selling at Tk 850-1,200 a kilogram, about Tk 100 higher than a week earlier, while one-kilogram Hilsa was selling at Tk 1,600-1,800 due to limited supplies.

Beef prices remained largely unchanged at Tk 750-850 a kilogram, while mutton was selling at Tk 1,200-1,350 a kilogram.

Bottled soya bean oil was selling at Tk 199 a litre, unpackaged soya bean oil at Tk 180-185 a litre and palm oil at Tk 165-170 a litre.

Fine, medium and coarse red lentils were selling at Tk 160, Tk 120 and Tk 105 a kilogram respectively.

Unpackaged atta sold for Tk 45-50 a kilogram, packaged atta Tk 60, unpackaged flour Tk 60, packaged flour Tk 75, while sugar was priced at Tk 105 a kilogram on Friday.