07/11/2007 (The New Nation) - The retail prices of most of the essentials remained almost stable in the city markets on Tuesday, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) market report said here on Wednesday.

The prices of different vegetables, however, declined further as the supply of winter items increased in the city markets, the report added.

The prices of different winter vegetables and onion, however, declined further as the supply of winter items increased in the city markets, the report added.

The BDR report said, most of the essentials are being sold at a cheaper price at BDR run markets than the open markets in the city.

The price of coarse rice in different markets, including Kamalapur, New Market, Karwanbazar, Kalyanpur, Kachukhet and Mohammadpur, ranged between Taka 23 and Taka 24 per kg on Tuesday, according to the BDR report.

Rice was being sold at Taka 24 at BDR-run open markets and Taka 19 at BDR-run sales centres on Tuesday while in Kolkata per kg coarse rice was sold at a price equivalent to Bangladesh Taka 21.62.

The price of one-kg packet of flour was between Taka 37 and Taka 38 in ordinary markets on Tuesday while the price of the item was Taka 37 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 35 at BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the flour is being sold at equivant to Taka 25.22 per kg, the report said.

The price of imported lentil (mashur) was Taka 64 per kg in ordinary markets, while it was being sold at Taka 65 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 58 at BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the price of the lentil was Taka 61.26 per kg. Onion (imported) was sold at Taka 44 to Taka 56 per kg in ordinary city markets while its price in Kolkata was Taka 32.43. Onion was being sold at Taka 42 per kg in BDR-run open markets and Taka 45 at BDR-run sales centres.

The price of imported gram (Chhola) was selling Taka 48 kg in different retail markets on Tuesday while in Kolkata, the item was being sold at Taka 57.65. The item was being sold at Taka 52 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 52 at BDR- run sales centres.

Sugar was being sold at Taka 30 to taka 32 per kg in ordinary markets compared to Taka 25.22 in Kolkata and Taka 30 in BDR-run open markets.

The price of green chilli, however, was ranging from Taka 40 to Taka 100 per kg in ordinary city markets. The item was sold at Taka 40 at BDR-run open markets. The green chilli in Kolkata was being sold at a price equivalent to Taka 32.43.

Potato was being sold at Taka 22 per kg in all the ordinary markets. The price of potato in BDR-run open market was Taka 20 and at BDR sales centres Taka 18. In Kolkata, the price of the item was equivalent to Taka 16.21.

Soybean oil was being sold at Taka 86 to Taka 90 per litre in ordinary markets, while it was available at Taka 82 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 81 in BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the price of soyabean oil was equivalent to Taka 104.50 per litre.

Palm oil was being sold at Taka 78 to Taka 82 per liter in ordinary markets. In Kolkata, the price of palm oil was Taka 99.09 per litre.

The oil was being sold at Taka 78 per kg in BDR-run open markets, the report added