Eid break slows fresh produce supply in Dhaka markets

Many shops in Dhaka’s Jatrabari wholesale market remained shuttered on the third day of Eid, with street vendors absent from alleys and only a few stalls open. Most of these shops offered limited quantities of fish and vegetables.

Retailers from Jatrabari, Shanir Akhra, and Kajla said the market slowdown is due to the ongoing Eid holidays. Since most retail traders have not returned to Dhaka yet, wholesalers are holding off on fresh supplies. What little produce is available combines new stock with leftover items, and prices remain the same as before Eid.

“Sales always dip in the week after Eid,” said Abul Hossain, a vegetable wholesaler in Jatrabari.

“Most people have gone home. Eid is all about meat and biryani -- only a little bit of vegetables are needed for children, the elderly, or those who are unwell.”

With this year’s 9-day Eid holiday set to end on Sunday, many people are still celebrating with families in their hometowns.

Aman Uddin, another wholesaler, said vegetable supplies will pick up once retailers return.

“They usually call to let us know when they’ll resume business. So far, only a few have come back. Once more return next week, supply from the villages will increase.”

Mahbubur Rahman Badol of Mollah Traders added, “There’s barely any demand. Guests don’t eat vegetables during Eid -- it’s mostly meat, fish, and sweets. The city is empty, and sales will remain slow for at least another week.”

Some vendors who stayed back in Dhaka have started buying small amounts of vegetables again, but wholesale traders will not bring in large shipments until the bulk of retailers are back as perishable goods can easily spoil if not sold.

On Wednesday, vegetable prices across Jatrabari, Shanir Akhra, and Kajla were stable. Pointed gourd was priced at Tk 80 a kg, long eggplant at Tk 60, ridge gourd and snake gourd at Tk 60, okra at Tk 30–40, yardlong beans at Tk 60, carrots at Tk 50, tomatoes at Tk 20 and bottle gourds at Tk 50–60 apiece.

Potatoes sold for Tk 25 a kg, onions for Tk 45, and green chilies for Tk 120 a kg. Sellers confirmed that prices were the same as before Eid.

With winter vegetables phasing out, flat beans were selling at Tk 40 per kg. Summer produce such as pointed gourd and yardlong beans have started to reappear in the markets.

Rony Patwari, a vegetable vendor in Shanir Akhra, had kept his shop closed on Sunday and Monday. By Wednesday, he was selling a mix of new and leftover vegetables, pricing bitter gourd at Tk 60 a kg, green papaya at Tk 40 a kg, and drumsticks at Tk 160 a kg.

“During Eid, salad items like cucumber, tomatoes, onions and chilies are in demand,” Rony said.

“Since there’s limited supply, I’ve only brought a few items. Most shops are still closed. I stayed in Dhaka, so I opened mine.”

Cucumbers were priced at Tk 50–60 per kg, the same as before Eid.

In the Munshibagh market of Jatrabari and Rayarbagh, rohu fish was selling at Tk 360 a kg on Wednesday. At Kajla’s Boubazar, fish trader Harisur Rahman said: “Prices haven’t changed. I kept some fish alive in water and brought in a new batch today.”

Fish stored in water (not frozen) was selling at Tk 320 per kg.

Fish trader Tajul Islam was offering katla, or carp, at Tk 400 per kg, farmed pabda at Tk 400 per kg, barbel at Tk 150–250 per kg (depending on size), shrimp at Tk 200–400 per kg, Nola (carp) at Tk 150 per kg, and small Mola fish at Tk 200 per kg.

Beef prices also remained stable, with Shanir Akhra trader Aminul Islam selling at Tk 750 a kg. “Even on the night before Eid, I sold at this price. I opened the day after Eid and again today -- still Tk 750.”

Banker Shahadat Hossain, one of his customers, said: “I bought extra meat for Eid, but unexpected guests finished it all. I came today for more, and the price is exactly the same as before Eid.”

Broiler chicken was selling at Tk 220 per kg and country chicken at Tk 300 per kg in the local markets.