The Crime Desk: On the pretext of supply shortage, the price of raw chilies is increasing at the retail level. In the last two days, the price has increased up to Tk 80 per kg. Traders say the supply of wholesale chillies in Rayazuddin Bazar, a major hub of raw produce, has reduced. As a result, prices are increasing. However, consumers say that sellers’ manipulation of raw chillies is nothing new. Earlier this time last year, the then government was forced to allow the import of green chillies from India due to the unbridled increase in the price of green chillies. A few retail markets in the city yesterday revealed that, currently, each kg of green pepper is being sold at Tk 300 to Tk 320, which was sold at Tk 240 two days ago. I talked to Imran Hossain, a chili seller, in the Kazi Deuri raw market of the city yesterday afternoon. He said that the supply of raw chili in the wholesale market is low, so the price is high. Yesterday morning I bought 4 kg of green chillies from Rayazuddin market. Sales are also low.
A buyer named Abu Taleb expressed his anger and said, Can the price of chili be so high? People should stop buying green chilies for a week. Then you will see what this syndicate of businessmen will face. Clearly, there is syndicate manipulation going on. The administration should monitor the chili market separately.
Salim Uddin, a wholesale chili seller for Rayazuddin Bazar, said that most chili comes from Pabna in the Chittagong market. But over the last month, the supply has been unusually low. I have heard that in Pakistan, due to drought and heavy rains, pepper plants die and production is disrupted. Chilli production fell to one fourth. So the chili market has been affected.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Chittagong divisional president SM Najer Hossain told the media that chili is not an essential product. Still, the price of this product has increased by leaps and bounds. Last year also once the price of raw chili exceeded 500 rupees. But later the market came under control. We request the administration to conduct regular raids in the market of daily commodities, including raw chillies.
