CHATTOGRAM, Nov 8, 2025 (BSS) - Prices of five essential commodities have recently declined in the country's largest consumer goods wholesale market at Khatunganj in Chattogram.

Lentils, khesari dal and sugar prices have fallen by Taka 4 to 12 per kilogram (kg), while raw soybean and palm oil prices have decreased by around Taka 2 per litre.

A visit to the market on Saturday found that lentil prices dropped by Taka 7 per kg in the last two weeks, now selling at Taka 81 per kg, while khesari dal and sugar fell by Taka 12 and Taka 4 per kg respectively.

Over the same period, the price of raw soybean oil declined by Taka 2.43 per litre to Taka 159.16, and palm oil by Taka 1.92 per litre to Taka 145.17.

However, the prices of these commodities are yet to decrease in the retail markets. Two weeks ago, lentils were priced at Taka 100 to 105 per kg, khesari dal at Taka 100, and sugar at Taka 105 to 110. Soybean oil was sold at Taka 180 per litre and palm oil at Taka 175 per litre, which remained the same today.

Faiz Ullah, Deputy Director of the Chattogram Divisional Office of the National Consumer Rights Protection Department, stated that their campaign is ongoing at the grassroots level, and they are working diligently with limited resources. He added that if any wrongdoing is found, the authorities will enforce the law.

The price of local onions, however, has increased by Taka 30 per kg at the wholesale level over the past three weeks. Yesterday, onions were sold at Taka 100 to 105 per kg. Within the same period, the consumer price has risen by Taka 30 per kg, reaching Taka 110. Wholesale and retail traders attributed the price hike to a supply shortage.

Md Idris, General Secretary of the Hamidullah Mia Market Traders' Welfare Association in Khatunganj, said the price is expected to stabilize once new round onions enter the market in December.

SM Nazer Hossain, vice president of the central committee of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), called for stronger market supervision to monitor pricing by traders. He noted that once prices rise, they often remain high for some time, affecting consumers.

Meanwhile, the price of broiler chicken has decreased by Taka 15 per kg in a week, selling at Taka 165, while Sonali chicken is priced at Taka 330. Beef is sold at Taka 750 to 950 per kg, and mutton at Taka 1,200. The price of eggs has also decreased by Taka 5, now selling at Taka 130 per dozen.

With the arrival of winter vegetables in the market, prices have been declining for the past two weeks. A recent visit to Riazuddin Bazar, one of the city's largest wholesale vegetable markets, revealed the following prices: cauliflower at Taka 80 per kg, radish and raw papaya at Taka 40, brinjal at Taka 60 to 65, chichinga at Taka 50 to 60, sweet pumpkin and gourd at Taka 40, carrots at Taka 120, bitter gourd, kankrol, dhends, barbati, kachurlati, and patol at Taka 60, beans at Taka 60 to 70, raw chilli at Taka 120, tomatoes at Taka 90 to 100, and potatoes at Taka 20 to 25.

In terms of fish prices, butter catfish (poa) is selling at Taka 250 to 300 per kg, grouper (coral) at Taka 700, tiger prawn at Taka 850 to 900, rohu and catla at Taka 350 to 450, laitta at Taka 180 to 200, pabda at Taka 400 to 450, pomfret at Taka 850, stinging catfish (shing) at Taka 400 to 450, tilapia and silver carp at Taka 250, tengra catfish at Taka 800, Nile tilapia (nailotica) at Taka 220, and puti fish at Taka 200.

A 2-kg packet of flour is priced at Taka 140, while loose flour of the same quantity is sold at Taka 90 in the retail market.