As Ramadan approaches, the market reflects a mix of trends—some essentials have seen price increases, while others remain “partially stable.”
Shoppers and traders note that key Ramadan staples, including dates, chickpeas, various lentils, gram flour, and sugar, continue to maintain steady prices and an uninterrupted supply.
However, fresh produce tells a different story, with the costs of lemons, cucumbers, and eggplants rising, along with increases in fish and meat prices.
A major concern remains the ongoing shortage of bottled soyabean oil, which has been in limited supply for over a month. This issue remains unresolved despite Ramadan’s imminent arrival.
The Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association had assured improved availability by Wednesday, yet the market remains largely unchanged.
Traders attribute the relative stability of many essential goods to increased imports.
Data from Bangladesh Bank shows a 20-64 percent rise in the import of key Ramadan commodities this year, which has helped mitigate the impact of rising demand.
Between October and January, sugar imports surged to 454,034 tonnes, reflecting a 20 percent increase from the previous year.
Soyabean oil imports rose by 34 percent to 598,252 tonnes over the same period.
Lentil imports increased by 44 percent, reaching 157,837 tonnes.
Chickpea imports climbed by 64 percent to 97,555 tonnes, while onion imports rose by 2 percent, garlic by 20 percent, ginger by 56 percent, and dates by 23 percent.
Currently, chickpeas are selling at Tk 110-120 per kg, the same as last Ramadan.
In Dhaka’s markets, eggplants are being sold at Tk 40-50 per kg, while gram flour costs Tk 120-140 per kg.
A market survey conducted across Jatrabari, Shanir Akhra, Kaptan Bazar, Shantinagar, Karwan Bazar, and Mohakhali kitchen markets found that imported white sugar is priced at Tk 120 per kg, whereas brown sugar costs Tk 140-145 per kg.
At Karwan Bazar, Mohammad Rasel of M/s Amjad Traders sells puffed rice at Tk 80 per kg.
“We sell at the price we buy. Red flattened rice is Tk 100 per kg, and neither puffed rice nor flattened rice has seen a price hike,” he told bdnews24.com.
His shop offers machine-processed white flattened rice at Tk 80 per kg.
Halima Khatun, who visited Karwan Bazar’s kitchen market after work to purchase chickpeas and gram flour, said, “The price of chickpeas had increased two days ago. I saw reports of higher imports, so I waited. Today, I got it for Tk 110, which is Tk 20 cheaper.”
At Shantinagar’s Maa-Babar Doa Departmental Store, shopkeeper Raju Ahmed shared, “Dubli lentils are Tk 70 per kg, but if someone bargains, I sell them for Tk 65. Everyone haggles, so I start a bit higher.”
At Karwan Bazar, Mohammad Rasel of M/s Hamza Traders sells different varieties of molasses.
“The best loose molasses costs Tk 200 per kg, while sugar-mixed molasses is Tk 160,” he told bdnews24.com.
His shop offers sugarcane molasses at Tk 140 per kg and puffed rice at Tk 80 per kg, unchanged from last year.
“We sold puffed rice for Tk 80 per kg last year too. Prices haven’t changed, and we don’t overcharge for molasses either,” he added.
Abul Hossain of Mita Traders at Mohakhali Kitchen Market said, “Imported white sugar is Tk 120 per kg. Packaged sugarcane sugar costs Tk 145 per kg, while loose sugarcane sugar is Tk 140 per kg.”
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), chickpeas were priced at Tk 110-120 per kg on Thursday, compared to Tk 95-110 a year ago.
Anchor lentils are currently sold between Tk 60-80 per kg, depending on quality, whereas last year, they ranged from Tk 75-80 per kg.
Shahin Sarker of AR Raihan Enterprise in Karwan Bazar confirmed these price points for lentils and chickpeas.
Last year, importers faced a 100 percent margin requirement due to the foreign currency crisis. Frequent exchange rate fluctuations further drove up costs.
To ease Ramadan supply concerns, the central bank relaxed the margin requirement for importing eight key items—chickpeas, lentils, peas, onions, edible oil, spices, sugar, and dates.
This year, importers were allowed to open letters of credit (LCs) based on bank-client relationships, without any mandatory margin, as stated by Governor Ahsan H Mansur on Feb 16.
Rezaul Karim, general manager of the Foreign Trade Division at Janata Bank, told bdnews24.com: “The central bank has instructed banks to allow imports without requiring any margin. Customers have been able to open LCs with the lowest possible margins, and there have been no issues with dollars.”
Masrur Arefin, managing director of City Bank, added, “We followed the central bank’s directive and provided LC facilities to traders with a 5 percent margin.”
MEAT AND FISH PRICES SOAR
Meat prices rose by Tk 20-30 per kg during Shab-e-Barat but briefly dropped before surging again ahead of Ramadan.
Broiler chicken now sells at Tk 210-230 per kg, while the Sonali variety is priced at Tk 330-350.
Just two days ago, broiler chicken was Tk 190-200 per kg, and Sonali was Tk 330.
Red layer chicken is selling at Tk 300 per kg, white layer at Tk 290, and local chicken at Tk 560.
Beef prices have increased by Tk 40-50 per kg compared to last week, now ranging between Tk 780-800 per kg.
Mutton has risen by Tk 50 per kg, now selling at Tk 1,200.
Fish prices have also increased by Tk 20-30 per kg.
At the Niketan kitchen market, 500g hilsa is priced at Tk 1,000, 700-800g at Tk 1,500, and 1kg hilsa at Tk 2,000.
Rui fish now costs Tk 380-450 per kg, while prawn is priced between Tk 780 and Tk 1,200.
Large katla fish is selling at Tk 350-420 per kg.
SOYABEAN OIL CRISIS PERSISTS
The shortage of bottled soyabean oil continues, despite earlier assurances of improved supply.
The limited availability of bottled oil has driven up demand for loose soyabean oil, which is selling at Tk 165-170 per litre.
The government-set price for bottled soyabean oil remains Tk 175 per litre and Tk 850 for five litres.
The Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association had promised sufficient oil supply, yet the shortage persists.
Palm oil has become an alternative, with lower-quality palm oil selling at Tk 150 per litre and superior-quality super palm oil at Tk 320 for two litres.
A five-litre bottled version is being sold at Tk 850.
Retailers across Dhaka and Chattogram confirm ongoing shortages, with some suppliers limiting deliveries, forcing customers to opt for palm oil instead.
Meanwhile, major department stores like Shwapno and Agora continue to stock bottled oil at government-set prices.
Traders and officials maintain that more shipments are expected, which should stabilize supply soon.
