Finance
Dates Dates are beyond the reach of common people as Bangladesh prepares for Ramadan
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, 11 March 2024: Dates have become a tradition for Muslims in Iftar during the fasting month. When the month of Ramadan comes, this foreign fruit is at the peak of consumer demand. Every year, the price of dates increases slightly during Ramadan. However, this year's price increase has surpassed all previous records.
Dates of different varieties of normal quality are also beyond the reach of common people. In the market, dates have become a luxury product for people who are tight on the price of other daily products.
Visit the capital's traditional Badamtali fruit market, a market full of dates from Saudi, Egypt, Dubai, Tunisia, Iran. The varieties of dates imported include Maryam, Mabrum, Kalmi, Dabas, Zahidi, Sayer, Ajwa, Medjul, Sukkari and Mashrukh. This year, five kilos of Miriam dates are being sold at wholesale starting from 4,300 to 5,500 taka, which was 2,500 to 4,000 taka last year. Kalmi dates are being sold at Tk 4,200, which was Tk 2,500 last year. Five kg of Ajwa dates are being sold at Tk 3,500 to Tk 4,200, which was Tk 26,000 to a maximum of Tk 32,000 last year.
This year Mabrum dates are being sold at 3500 to 4500 taka, which last year was from 2200 to 3200 taka. Medjul, which was sold at 5,500 to 6,000 taka last year, is being sold at 7,500 to 8,000 taka this time. After checking the retail market, the price of dates per kg has increased from 200 to 600 taka compared to last year. In the retail market, different varieties of Maryam, Mabrum, Kalmi dates are not available below Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,200. Medium Dabas, Mashrukh, Sukkari are being sold for Tk 550 to Tk 850. Jahidi price of 150 taka per kg is now 300 taka.
