Prices of egg, vegetables fall in absence of buyers

NEWS DESK 

The price of a dozen of eggs had gone up as high as Tk120 from Tk95-Tk100 overnight two weeks ago when panic buying began amid coronavirus fears.

But now it is a completely opposite picture, with the price coming down as low as Tk80 amid absence of an adequate number of buyers.

In a similar fashion, prices of onion and vegetables have dropped.

While visiting several kitchen markets in the capital, this correspondent found that the supply of daily essentials was usual. But people now prefer staying indoors at this time of shutdown, leading to a significant fall in sales.   

However, the price of rice was still going high, and lentils joined it newly. 

Retailers said piles of vegetables remained unsold in the absence of buyers. That was why they were selling vegetables at lower profits.

Abdur Razzak, a shop owner at Wapda Road in the capital's Rampura area, said: "The supply of eggs is alright but the price dropped."

According to Bangladesh Poultry Industry Central Council, the price of egg has dropped to Tk4.20 a piece from Tk5 at the production level. 

Most of the vegetables were being sold at not more than Tk40 a kg.  

Tomato was selling at Tk25-Tk30 a kg, eggplants at Tk35-Tk40 per kg, okra at Tk40 per kg, potatoes at Tk20 per kg, medium-sized gourd at Tk35-Tk40, bean at Tk30-Tk40 and ridge gourd at Tk40 per kg.

Habibur, a vegetable seller at Karwan Bazar, said the amount of vegetables that they sold during one-third of a day in normal time could not be sold in three days now. The number of buyers has dropped drastically, so have the prices.

According to sources, broiler chicken was selling at Tk115-Tk120 per kg while beef was selling at Tk600 per kg in different city markets. Per kg red lentils was selling at Tk75-Tk80, up by Tk10 in a few days.