Kitchen costs burn higher in Dhaka as chilli, vegetables get pricier

Rains have dampened roads but lit a fire in the kitchen, with chilli prices in Dhaka’s markets jumping by over Tk 100 in a week and vegetables climbing fast behind. A visit to Saat Tola and Mohakhali kitchen markets shows that chilli which sold at Tk 200–240 per kg last week now ranges from Tk 320–350 per kg depending on quality. Jahangir Hossain, a vegetable seller at Saat Tola, told bdnews24.com: “Several days of continuous rain have damaged the chilli plants. As a result, prices have risen at the farmer level. We are forced to sell at higher rates.” Oliur Rahman, a seller at Mohakhali market, said: “We bought chillies from Karwan Bazar at higher prices, so we have to...