As Ramadan gets underway, shoppers in the southwestern district of Habiganj are confronting a sharp rise in the cost of everyday groceries, with some staple items climbing to triple digit price tags despite what vendors describe as steady supply.
In visits to several local markets on Thursday, the first day of Ramadan, traders and customers alike described a marketplace that was busy but tense. Eggplants and cucumbers, essential ingredients for traditional iftar meals, were selling for between 100 and 120 taka per kilogram. Lemons, another Ramadan staple, were priced at 120 to 150 taka per four piece bundle, depending on size and quality.
“I didn’t expect prices to jump like this on the first day,” said Saiful Islam, a shopper at one of the town’s central markets. “You cannot imagine iftar without lemons. But paying up to 150 taka for four feels unreasonable.”
Another customer, Takdir Chowdhury, questioned why prices had climbed despite what he described as adequate availability. “The markets are full. There is no visible shortage,” he said. “Yet every year during Ramadan, the same items become more expensive. It feels routine.”
Vendors pointed to higher wholesale rates and seasonal demand. One lemon seller said that prices had already increased at the wholesale level due to surging demand, leaving retailers little room to adjust. Fruit sellers cited rising transportation costs as a factor in higher prices for apples, pomegranates and oranges, which have increased by 50 to 80 taka per kilogram in recent days.
For many families, the increases are stretching already tight budgets. “We have to buy fruit for the children,” said Farhana Yasmin, another shopper. “But now it is pushing us beyond what we planned to spend.”
Chicken prices, though elevated, have remained stable over the past week. Broiler chickens were selling at 200 taka per kilogram, Sonali at 320 taka and layer chickens at 330 taka. Traders said there had been no recent change in poultry prices.
Some relief came from lentils and chickpeas, which have remained relatively affordable compared with other staples. “At least those two items are manageable,” said Abul Hasan, a buyer. “That gives us a little comfort.”
Even so, the overall mood in the markets reflected concern that further volatility could emerge in the coming weeks. Shoppers expressed hope that authorities would prevent additional instability as the holy month progresses.
