Veg Prices Drop, Bottled Soybean Oil Disappears

There's no cooking oil in the market. I went to several supermarkets and grocery stores. Nowhere could I find a two-liter bottle of soybean oil. Finally, I got a one-liter bottle of soybean oil at a small alleyway shop. They had two bottles, so I bought one. However, I had to pay Tk15 more than the price mentioned on the bottle."

These are the statements of Sabiha Sultana, a housewife from Mohammadpur.

In a voice tinged with frustration, she further said, "Prices of essential commodities are often raised using the excuse of supply shortages. This causes immense suffering for ordinary people like us. I earnestly request the government to monitor the situation. This would alleviate people's hardships."

The same sentiment was echoed by Imran Mahmud, a student at Tejgaon College.

He said, "After finishing cooking this morning, our house cook informed me that the oil was finished. She said she couldn't prepare lunch without oil. But I faced a crisis in the market. Wherever I went, there was no oil. Where available, shopkeepers were asking for Tk 15-20 more under the pretext of a shortage. I had no option but to buy it at a higher price."

Imran added, "If prices of some items rise this way, where will students go like us? Most of us face financial difficulties. We can't just ask for money from home whenever we need it. The government should take this matter seriously."

Monu Mia, a rickshaw puller from Farmgate, expressed his grievances, "Even though prices of goods keep increasing, our income doesn't rise. Now there's no oil, and if found, it costs more. What are poor people like us supposed to do?"

The same scenario is observed in other parts of Dhaka, such as Mohammadpur, Tejturi Bazar, and Farmgate. Bottled soybean oil seems to have almost disappeared. Where it's found, customers have to pay more than the printed price.

This has caused a rise in the prices of loose soybeans and palm oil. Allegations are rife that shopkeepers are pouring bottled oil into containers and selling it as loose oil to earn extra profits.

According to data from the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the current retail price of loose soybean oil is Tk 165-168 per liter, and loose palm oil is being sold for Tk 158-159 per liter.

Mohammad Khalilur Rahman Sajal, Executive Director of a consumer rights group, commented on the issue:
"Despite various facilities like reduced value-added tax, edible oil companies have decreased supply instead of lowering prices. If the Ministry of Commerce doesn't act against them now, the situation could become even more difficult during Ramadan."

Despite the cooking oil crisis, vegetable prices offer some relief.

A visit to various vegetable markets in Dhaka revealed a surplus of seasonal vegetables. Increased supply has made prices much more affordable. Currently, cauliflower and cabbage are being sold for Tk 40-50 each, radishes for Tk 30-40 per kilogram, turnips for Tk 60-70, and beans for Tk 60-100 depending on the variety. Tomatoes are priced at Tk 130-140 per kilogram.

Additionally, eggplants are priced at Tk 60-80, papayas at Tk 40-50, bottle gourds at Tk 50-60 each, green chilies at Tk 80-100 per kilogram, old potatoes at Tk 75-80, and new potatoes at Tk 110-120 per kilogram.

Day laborer Abdur Razzak, who was shopping at Karwan Bazar, expressed his satisfaction at being able to buy vegetables at lower prices.

"It would be great if we could buy vegetables at these prices year-round. Our income is low. I urge the government to maintain this stability in the vegetable market," he said.