In Khulna, the price of rice has increased, vegetables are also uncomfortable.

Md. Shamim Hossain – Khulna Rice market in Khulna is unstable. There is no control on the price of green chillies. Even in full season, buyers are uncomfortable with the price of winter vegetables. However, the price of eggs has decreased slightly. In the last one week, the price of rice has increased by Tk 2 per kg. In the Khulna market, all types of coarse rice are being sold at Tk 45 to Tk 53, medium rice at Tk 55 to Tk 59, thin rice at Tk 60 to Tk 76. Md. Anwar Hosne, a vendor in the city’s Sheikhpara market, said that the price of rice has increased due to the adverse weather conditions. Processing of rice is delayed in reaching the market due to dense fog. As a result, the price has increased slightly. In Khulna, each egg is being sold at 42 taka. Meanwhile, even in the full season, the price of vegetables is beyond the reach of common buyers. Khulna’s Tutupara, Sheikhpara, Dolkhola, Daulatpur, Mistripara Gallamari and Sandhya Bazar have seen buyers dissatisfied with the price of winter vegetables despite the high supply. Cauliflower is being sold at Tk 20 to Tk 25 per kg, Cabbage at Tk 20, Eggplant at Tk 30 to Tk 35, Red cabbage at Tk 25 to Tk 30, Tomato at Tk 30 per kg. On the other hand, the price of green chillies is from 100 taka to 160 kg. A seller named Kawsar said that the price of vegetables is a little low. However, the price of green chillies has increased abnormally. He said that the price of green chillies is high due to low supply. Meanwhile, the price of eggs has decreased by 2 rupees. Sheikhpara market trader Amin said that the price of eggs has decreased within a week. However, buyers are dissatisfied with the price in the market. Buyer md. Alauddin Haque said that the price of winter vegetables is high even in the full season. The price of rice is also high. The prices of rice-dal and oil-sugar are beyond affordability. Product prices are increasing, income is not increasing. Another buyer named Arafat Hossain Anik said that the administration needs regular monitoring to control the market. Director of Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mofidul Isram Tutul said that some unscrupulous traders increase the price of products through syndicates. This businessman demanded action against them. Shahriar Akunji, Khulna’s senior agricultural marketing officer, said regular operations are underway to control the market. More raids will be conducted in the future. Batiaghata Upazila Agricultural Officer of Khulna Agricultural Extension Department. Rabiul Islam said, due to lack of rain and drought, the yield of Aush was not expected this year. Apart from this, rice marketing is taking some time due to fog in North Bengal. This has increased the price of rice.

Hundreds of self-reliant women make pebbles from dung in Dakop, Khulna.

Md. Shamim Hossain –

Khulna A pebble is two rupees. One hundred pebbles two hundred rupees. We have our own cow, we make gravel from cow dung and sell it. This money from the sale of gravel benefits the family. I keep some of my expenses and give the rest to my husband. The needs of boys and girls can also be met. This is how Shabri Roy (30) of Bortbari village of Kailashganj union of Dakop upazila spoke. She is not alone, many other women like her are making pebbles out of dung and selling them. They meet their own expenses and the small needs of the family with the money from the sale of gravel. Women of all areas of Dakop Upazila of Khulna do this work for about 8 months of the year except during monsoon. On the one hand, they get income and on the other hand, the pressure on the plants for fuel is reduced. The oxygen reservoir is protected from indiscriminate killing. Bajua Union No. 1 of Dakop Upazila is only 35-40 km away from Khulna city. About 20 thousand people live in this union of Dakop Upazila of Khulna. At one time people here chose agriculture as their main occupation due to underdeveloped communication system. Fish farming is also added to that cultivation. Paddy, watermelon, winter vegetables and other vegetables are also produced in this union. As no crops are produced for a large part of the year, cows graze there unhindered. That is why every family has more or less other livestock including cows. Rita Rani Biswas, a housewife of Bajua village, said that she can make one to one and a half thousand pebbles every month. They are dried and sold on the roadside or inside the house. The only cost is to buy jute. He can sell a pebble for two rupees. He said, he kept the necessary gravel for the family and sold the rest to the shopkeepers. The fariyas came to the house and took it away. The gravel taken from them is sold in other areas for three rupees. If you can sell 1500 pebbles in a month, it is 3000 taka. Which she kept some of herself and gave the rest to her husband. He can also meet the needs of boys and girls. Shyama Prasad Gain, former president of Bajua Union Higher Secondary School Board of Management, said that most of the women in this village make gravel. By doing this they have become very self-reliant. The village still has a lot of vegetation due to the use of gravel as fuel. which acts as our oxygen reservoir. Chairman Manas Kumar Roy said that most of the women of the union are able to meet their own needs by making gravel out of dung and helping in various household tasks. Everyone keeps the fuel they need for their family work and sells the rest. However, no government or private assistance is provided for this work.