The proposed budget for the financial year 2024-25 was announced last Thursday. Although the budget was presented, not much impact and changes were seen in the commodity markets as in other years.
After the media visit to capital’s Badda and Rampura markets yesterday morning, media found that the prices of all kinds of products including vegetables, fish and meat were the same as before. Traders said that many products are already purchased, so it will take a few more days to realize the impact of the budget.
Traders also said that since the last month of Ramadan, the commodity price market has been on an upward trend. Moreover, the prices of many products have increased before the announcement of the budget. That is why there is nothing to increase the price of the product after the announcement. Still, some things may have an impact, which may be seen in next week's markets.
The image of the vegetable market shows that the market is very expensive on this day like other weekends. Most of the vegetables are selling between Tk 50-100. There are some vegetables in the market which are sold for as low as Tk 30 depending on the quality.
Md Shamsu, a vegetable vendor at Badda Panchtola market, told the media that papaya is being sold at Tk 50 in the market today, which was Tk 80 earlier. Barboti is selling at Tk 100, which was Tk 80. Carrot Tk 120, which was Tk 160. Cucumbers are being sold at the previous price of Tk 80. Also, Dheros Tk 50, which was also sold yesterday for Tk 40. Gourds are selling at Tk 60 per kg, which was Tk 50. Also, brinjal is being sold at Tk 80-60 per variety. As the season of tomato is over, the price of this crop is increasing day by day. Tomatoes are selling at Tk 80-100 in today's market.
Regarding the impact of the budget, this seller said that the market is the same as before. Although the budget was last Thursday, there is no impact on today's market. The price of vegetables is already relatively high, which will increase the price here. Still, maybe next week's market will reveal the real picture.
Saidul Islam, another vegetable seller, said that the prices of some items increased yesterday. For example, the demand for cucumbers, tomatoes, and carrots increases on yesterday and the prices also increased. Regarding other vegetables, he said, the price is a little higher due to the reduced supply of vegetables in the market. If the heat subsides, the price may decrease slightly.
Meanwhile, a student named Rashed Ahmed who came to the market said, "I saw the budget yesterday, although people of class and profession like us have nothing to do with the budget." This kind of budget has nothing for the common man. Whether the budget is low or high, the price of daily essentials will never decrease but instead will continue to increase. So there is not much interest in the budget.
He said the price of almost every product in the market is on the rise. Due to this, the monthly food cost has increased by almost half. But our income has not increased. After doing 2 tuitions, I still get what I used to get. But as the price of everything is increasing, people like us have no way to buy anything.
Jashim Uddin, a private employee, said that we cannot eat fish or meat every day with our low salary. But if the price of vegetables goes up so much then it should be reduced. The market is full of all kinds of vegetables and there is no shortage. Still, the traders increase the price on the syndicate average. We buy compulsively. A country cannot run like this.
Incidentally, the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 was announced last Thursday. Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali presented the budget in the National Parliament. This is the 54th budget in the history of the country. Its size is estimated at Tk 7 lakh 97 thousand crores. The revenue target has been set at Tk 5 lakh 41 thousand crore. And the deficit has been estimated at Tk 2 lakh 56 thousand crore.
The government has set a target of bringing down the price inflation to 6.5 percent in the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 in the context of rising commodity prices. The Finance Minister said that some special steps have been taken for this.
Withholding tax on the supply of at least 27 essential commodities and food grains is being reduced to stabilize the commodity market and curb high inflation. In the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2024-2025, the tax at source on these products is being reduced from 2 percent to 1 percent. Commodities include- Onion, Garlic, Peas, Chickpeas, Rice, Wheat, Potatoes, Lentils, Edible Oil, Sugar, Ginger, Turmeric, Dry Chilies, Dal, Maize, Flour, Flour, Salt, Pepper, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Dates, 27 products including bay leaves, jute, cotton, yarn, and all kinds of fruits.
ZH
