'Traders hike essentials' prices to capitalise on coronavirus'

The daily essentials in Bangladesh have been seeing an increase in the prices since the coronavirus outbreak in the country. 

The buyers alleged that some dishonest traders have hiked the prices to capitalise on the coronavirus pandemic. 

In last one and a half month, prices of all commodities, including rice, pulse, oil, sugar, milk, onion, ginger, garlic soared, and some items' prices rose two to three times.

Bangladesh confirmed its first COVID-19 cases on March 8. In the following day, a kg Minicate variety of rice's price jumped by Tk 8 to Tk 60. Gradually it reached, so far, Tk 68. Other varieties of rice also witnessed rise.

The traders raised the prices of wheat by Tk 6 per kg and hiked the same of edible oil by Tk 10-15 per kg. 

During the period, prices of lentils, anchor pulses (a kind of broken gram), moong dal and gram rose by Tk 15-30.

Price of onion, the key cooking ingredient, is now Tk 60 a kg, Tk 25 lower than that of the spicy before the outbreak, and garlic, another cooking ingredient, is being sold at Tk 140 per kg which was Tk 60 before the virus.

Prices of the spices such as cumin, cloves, cardamom, and bay leaf went up significantly in a moment when the coronavirus lockdown left a vast number of people without work, jobless.

With less money in hand, the consumers have to buy meat, milk and vegetables in higher prices.

Manik, a resident of city's Khilgaon, some traders are earning profit by taking common people in hostage.

Rampura resident Yanur alleged no strict action was taken against the dishonest traders despite they have been hiking prices of the daily essentials during the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile the retailers blamed supply shortages for increase in the prices.