In the bustling area near Bashundhara gate, opposite Jamuna Future Park, street vendor Taher Sarkar pulls a crowd with his display of vibrant red tomatoes. At first glance, his stall seems like a go-to for affordable, fresh produce. However, a closer look reveals that Taher is selling tomatoes at Tk 200 per kg—Tk 50 more than the nearby supermarket, where costs like rent, staff salaries, utility bills, and VAT are part of the operational expense.
Despite not shouldering these costs, Taher’s tomatoes are pricier, highlighting a surprising trend in Dhaka’s street markets. Taher is just one example in a larger story of Dhaka’s unregulated produce market, where roadside vendors are sometimes selling essentials at even higher prices than established stores, despite the perception of “affordable” street shopping.
Monirul Bishwash, a rickshaw puller from the Kuril area near Bashundhara, expressed his frustration with the rising cost of essentials, saying, “We don’t dare to go to the supershops and instead rely on street-side vegetable and other small shops. But now, they are also charging high prices. So, where will we go?”
His statement underscores the growing pressure on low-income workers who are struggling to manage daily expenses as prices rise even at the local street markets they rely on.
This scenario plays out across Dhaka’s markets, where roadside vendors are frequently charging as much as, or more than, their supermarket counterparts. Take green chili, for example—a cart vendor near Badda Main Road sells it at Tk 160 per kg, whereas the price in a nearby Bashundhara supermarket is Tk 140 per kg. Similar price gaps appear with greens such as puishak, lal shak, and sabuj shak, which are sometimes pricier on the street than in the supermarkets.
For many residents of Dhaka, especially those in Mirpur and other busy neighborhoods, there is a long-standing belief that street vendors offer more affordable rates on essential items.
Yet as these examples reveal, consumers may often be overcharged, with the perception of cheaper prices masking instances of opportunistic pricing.
Price Spikes in Onions and Potatoes Add to Consumer Woes
Beyond the pricing discrepancies between street vendors and supermarkets, significant increases in the cost of staple foods like onions and potatoes are straining household budgets.
In local markets, the price of domestic onions has surged to Tk 150–160 per kg, marking an increase of Tk 35 per kg within just two weeks. Even imported onions have not been spared, now priced at Tk 110–120 per kg—up from Tk 90–100 per kg a week ago.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), prices for locally sourced onions have shot up by 30% over the past month, and year-over-year prices are up by 35%. Similarly, imported onions have experienced an 8% hike in the last month alone.
The surge in onion prices stems from multiple factors. Heavy rainfall has delayed the harvest of the early “murikata” onion variety, reducing its availability in markets.
Vendors report that local supplies are dwindling due to these harvest delays, with the remaining stock only expected to reach markets after 15–20 days. In response, the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission recently recommended removing the current 5% import duty on onions to help lower prices and stabilize supply.
However, with India—one of Bangladesh’s main onion suppliers—maintaining a 20% export duty on the crop, imported onion prices have also remained high.
Potato prices have similarly increased, adding to consumers’ struggles. Retail markets now list potatoes at Tk 60–65 per kg, up by Tk 5–10 from two weeks prior, as wholesalers supply them at Tk 56–58 per kg.
Small Relief in Other Essential Items
Despite the hike in key essentials, some relief is seen in prices for eggs and chicken. In the last week, farm eggs have decreased by Tk 5 per dozen, now selling for Tk 150–155, while broiler chicken has dropped by Tk 10 per kg, with prices ranging from Tk 190–200 per kg. Sonali chicken prices have also eased, decreasing by Tk 20 per kg to Tk 280–300.
However, several vegetables, including chili, potol, lau, and others, have shown relative stability in general compared to two weeks ago.
In the coming weeks, as the availability of winter vegetables increases, consumers hope for broader price relief in their daily purchases.
Growing Concern Over Market Discipline
The current market trends in Dhaka underline the lack of oversight in the produce market, with roadside vendors frequently setting their prices unchecked. Without a regulatory framework to manage these disparities, consumers may continue to face unpredictable and often inflated prices.
With onion, potato, and essential vegetable prices straining household budgets, calls for stronger market discipline and consistent pricing have only grown louder, as many hope for fairer practices in Dhaka’s sprawling produce landscape.
