Despite government-fixed prices for potatoes, eggs, and onions, these essential food items are not being sold at the mandated rates in Bangladesh. The government established these price controls on September 14 to curb rising food inflation. The retail price for eggs was set at Tk 12 each, onions at Tk 64-65 per kilogram, and potatoes at Tk 35-36 per kilogram. However, due to limited supply and unaltered wholesale prices, retailers are selling them at higher rates.
In Dhaka, for instance, retailers are selling eggs for Tk 150 per dozen, potatoes for Tk 50 per kilogram, and local onions for Tk 85 per kilogram. Wholesalers and retailers claim that they purchased these goods at higher prices, making it impossible to comply with government-set rates. In other regions, similar pricing issues persist, with some potatoes being sold at Tk 45-50 per kilogram, local onions at Tk 88-90 per kilogram, and eggs at Tk 13-14 each in Chattogram.
Officials from the Directorate of National Consumers Rights Protection acknowledge the challenge of bringing prices under control, citing the lack of transaction receipts between wholesalers and retailers. Economists emphasize the need for credible market manipulation deterrents and increased supply to address the issue effectively.
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