With the onset of the holy month of Ramadan, demand for pineapple and watermelon has surged at the fruit market in the Gun Gach Tola area of Cox’s Bazar town. Traders and customers say the growing trend of including fruits in daily iftar meals has pushed prices higher.
A visit to the market shows that pineapples are currently being sold at Tk 40 to Tk 60 per kilogram. Watermelons, depending on size, are priced between Tk 90 and Tk 130 per kilogram. Buyers claim these prices are higher compared to recent weeks.
Nurul Hakim and several other customers said that fruits are an essential part of their daily iftar during Ramadan. However, the increased prices of watermelon and pineapple are putting pressure on household budgets. Many are purchasing smaller quantities than usual to manage expenses.
Fruit vendors, however, offered a different perspective. They explained that prices have risen slightly due to increased demand at the start of Ramadan and relatively limited supply. Rahim, a watermelon trader at Gun Gach Tola, anticipates an increase in shipments from various regions in the coming days. Prices are likely to decline gradually as supply improves.
Traders also noted that transportation costs and higher wholesale prices are influencing the retail market. Nonetheless, they expressed optimism that fruit prices may stabilize around the middle of Ramadan.
Local buyers are closely monitoring the market situation, hoping for some relief as prices ease in the coming weeks.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
