Unprecedented price hikes have hit green chillies across the capital following severe supply disruptions caused by continuous rainfall over the past few days. The price of green chillies has surged to Tk 400 per kg.

Simultaneously, prices of all essential vegetables have escalated which made low and middle-income consumers under severe financial strain.

A survey of local kitchen markets revealed that freshly harvested tender green chillies are selling for Tk 400 per kilogram. Mature stocks are being traded between Tk 350-360 per kg.

However, three days ago, fresh green chillies were being sold at Tk 240 per kg. A week ago, it was around Tk 120-200 per kg.

Traders claimed such dramatic price surge occurred due to heavy rainfall that submerged chilli fields across the major producing regions, severely damaging crop yields.

Furthermore, logistical hurdles in harvesting and transporting produce to urban hubs have drastically curtailed market supply. The perishable nature of green chillies has exacerbated the shortage.

Chilli trader Jamir Ali noted that nearly 90 per cent of chilli plants in the upazila were destroyed due to waterlogging. “As a result, market supply is extremely low. We are forced to purchase at elevated prices from wholesale markets. Prices could escalate further unless imports from India are initiated,” he added.

Sufia Begum, a consumer, said, “Earlier, I used to buy chillies worth Tk 100 at a time. Now, I am forced to spend Tk 50 just to get 20 to 30 chillies. Running a household has become increasingly difficult.”

According to Agriculturist Nur-e-Alam, Upazila Agriculture Officer, chillies were cultivated on 25 hectares of land in the upazila this season. However, prolonged waterlogging caused by heavy rains damaged approximately 90 per cent of chilli fields in low-lying areas, causing a sharp decline in market arrivals.

Consumers have urged the authorities to step up regular market monitoring to prevent artificial shortages and extortionate profit-taking, while calling for urgent measures to restore normal supply chains.