Dhaka Vegetable Prices Surge Amid Heavy Rains and Supply Shortages
Vegetable prices in Dhaka's kitchen markets have surged due to heavy rainfall and reduced supply. Consumers are struggling to cope with high costs as most vegetables sell above 70 BDT per kilogram.
Dhaka's kitchen markets are experiencing a significant surge in vegetable prices, driven by heavy rainfall and a subsequent drop in supply. According to reports from Jago News published on August 26, 2026, markets across the capital—including Shewrapara, Raiyankhola, Mohakhali, Mirpur, Agargaon, and Kalyanpur—are seeing most varieties of vegetables sold at rates exceeding 70 BDT per kilogram, with only papaya and green bananas remaining below this threshold.
Market vendors and traders have pointed to weather-related disruptions as the primary driver behind the inflation. Mizanul Alam, a market insider, explained the situation by stating that excessive rainfall has severely hampered vegetable production. He added that the resulting decline in supply at wholesale markets has directly impacted retail markets across Dhaka.
Consumer frustration is mounting as the high prices strain household budgets. Moazzem noted that while vegetable prices are relatively low during the winter season, other times of the year typically see most vegetables available within the range of 50 to 80 BDT. Currently, however, prices for standard cooking ingredients have far exceeded those traditional thresholds.
Detailed price observations from the capital's markets illustrate the extent of the market pressure. Papaya is currently selling for 30 to 40 BDT per kilogram, while green bananas are priced at 30 to 40 BDT per hali. Other items command much higher rates: taro root (kchumukhi) is 80 BDT per kilogram, round eggplant is 120 BDT per kilogram, long eggplant ranges from 100 to 120 BDT per kilogram, yardlong beans (barbati) are 100 BDT per kilogram, ridge gourd (jhinga) is 80 BDT per kilogram, bitter gourd (korola) is 80 BDT per kilogram, and bottle gourds (lau) are selling for 60 to 70 BDT per piece. Premium or out-of-season items are even pricier, with beans (shim) at 200 BDT per kilogram, and both carrots and tomatoes priced between 120 and 140 BDT per kilogram.
Shoppers voiced deep concern over their diminished purchasing power in the face of these escalating costs. Rabeya Begum remarked that she used to buy a full bag of vegetables for a small amount of money, but now even a full bag of money cannot fill a vegetable bag. Noting that almost all domestically produced vegetables carry high price tags, she asserted that traders are fixing prices arbitrarily, leaving ordinary consumers to struggle immensely.
Echoing these sentiments, Fatiha Islam described the daily difficulties of managing household expenses at the market. She pointed out that no leafy greens can be found for under 20 to 30 BDT, and purchasing just two or three types of vegetables costs upwards of 200 BDT. Consequently, shoppers are finding that a budget of one thousand taka yields only a meager amount of goods to take back home.
