Prawns at Tk 1,000 a kg in Meradia market as single earners in large families struggle silently

Ataur Rahman, who works at a private organisation, came to the Meradia fish market in the capital to buy local prawns and was stunned by the price. He had come early in the morning because his children wanted to eat small local prawns with bottle gourd. But the darker local prawns were selling at Tk 1,000 a kilogramme, and sea prawns at Tk 800.

Ataur Rahman said the same small local prawns were Tk 500 to 600 a few days ago and are now Tk 1,000 a kg, asking how that was possible. He said tilapia and pangas were above Tk 350 a kg and rui over one kg started at Tk 380, and asked what would happen to lower-middle-income families if the prices of vegetables, fish and meat rose so much.

A tour of the market found white small prawns at Tk 800 a kg and the darker ones at Tk 1,000. Tengra was Tk 800, and other small fish were selling at Tk 400 to 500 a kg. Fresh rui over one kg was Tk 380 to 480. Boal, shol and mrigel were also close to Tk 500 a kg. Hilsa slightly bigger than jatka was selling at Tk 1,000 to 1,200 a kg.

Buyer Abdus Salam said he bought rui at Tk 380 a kg; he used to buy two or three, but now has to be content with one. Asking which product was still within reach, he said papaya was Tk 30 a kg, potatoes that were Tk 20-25 are now Tk 35, and other vegetables were all above Tk 60. Families with many members and only one earner were crying silently, with no one really to see it, he said.

On the first working day of the week there was no change in market prices. Chicken eggs were selling at Tk 145-150 a dozen. Desi chicken was Tk 650-660 a kg, broiler Tk 190 and cock Tk 330. Beef was Tk 820 a kg and mutton Tk 1,200.

In the vegetable market, potatoes were Tk 30, pointed gourd Tk 60, beans Tk 80, bitter gourd Tk 80, ridge gourd Tk 60, snake gourd Tk 60, okra Tk 50, papaya Tk 30, brinjal Tk 80-120 depending on type, sponge gourd Tk 70, tomato Tk 120 and garlic Tk 120-200 a kg. Cauliflower was Tk 80 a piece, cabbage Tk 80, and bottle gourd Tk 50-80.

Housewife Sharmin Begum, who came to the market, said families like hers can no longer shop fully or as they wish; they have to buy in small amounts, or come in the evening when vegetables are Tk 10-20 cheaper per kg, while fresh vegetables are priced higher in the morning. She said they were bewildered by prices and that running the household had become difficult.

Fish seller Yunus said there was nothing they could do; if they have to buy at higher prices, they cannot sell at a loss. Their business has also fallen because of the price rise — customers who used to buy three or four rui at once now do not even want to take two.

Vegetable seller Abdul Halim said the market situation was not good; he used to bring Tk 25,000-30,000 worth of vegetables, but with sales down he now brings only Tk 10,000-12,000 worth. Buyers were suffering on one side, and sellers' sales had fallen on the other, he said.