Date prices in Dhaka surged by up to Tk 50 per kilogram on the first day of Ramadan, despite adequate supply and a recent import duty cut aimed at stabilising the market, traders and officials said.
Retail visits across major markets in the capital on Thursday showed that Zahidi dates, widely consumed by middle- and lower-income households, were selling at Tk 350 per kg, compared with Tk 280–300 earlier this week. On a year-on-year basis, the same variety is nearly Tk 100 per kg more expensive than on the first day of Ramadan last year.
Lower-priced loose, or ‘bosta’, dates were trading between Tk 250 and Tk 280 per kg, up from Tk 220–250 just two days ago.
Premium varieties recorded even higher retail prices. Ajwa dates were selling for up to Tk 1,000 per kg, while Medjool ranged between Tk 1,650 and Tk 1,800 per kg. Mid-range varieties such as Mabroom and Kalmi Maryam were priced between Tk 850 and Tk 950 per kg.
The price rise comes after the National Board of Revenue reduced import duty on dates to 15 per cent from 25 per cent ahead of Ramadan. The tariff cut was introduced as part of a policy measure to ease consumer burden during peak seasonal demand.
According to official estimates, Bangladesh’s annual demand for dates ranges from 90,000 to 100,000 tonnes, with 60,000 to 80,000 tonnes consumed during Ramadan. Current reserves are reported to be approximately 25 per cent higher than total annual demand, indicating no immediate supply shortage.
Some traders attributed the retail spike to speculation. A rumour circulating in the market claimed that 150 containers of dates had sunk near Thailand, raising concerns among retailers. However, wholesalers in Dhaka denied any disruption in supply or price increases at the wholesale level.
“There has been no increase in wholesale prices,” said Abdur Rahim, a fruit trader with 27 years of experience at Badamtoli, one of Dhaka’s main wholesale markets.
Consumers expressed frustration over the sudden retail hike. Mohammad Azizul, a buyer in the Motijheel area, said he paid Tk 350 per kg for Zahidi dates on Thursday after purchasing the same variety for Tk 280 last week.
“If prices change this quickly, many of us will have to reconsider buying dates,” he said, calling for stronger market monitoring by authorities.
Retailers maintained that date supply remains stable across markets in Dhaka, but the first-day Ramadan demand surge appears to have driven prices upward at the consumer level.
The situation places renewed attention on market supervision and enforcement mechanisms during Ramadan, when demand for essential food items rises sharply across the country.
