Dhaka vegetable prices have escalated to three or four times their original farm rates due to highway extortion, middleman exploitation, and inadequate market oversight. Farmers across Bogura, Khulna, Jashore, Pabna, Rajshahi, and Kushtia receive minimal compensation while urban consumers face inflated costs. Transportation involves multiple illegal toll payments to highway police, political groups, and local organizations at various checkpoints.
The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission confirmed that unlawful toll collection, profiteering by intermediaries, insufficient data, and poor monitoring are driving this crisis. Price differences demonstrate the severity, with hyacinth beans costing farmers 27-40 taka per kilogram but selling for 160-220 taka in Dhaka markets. Consumer advocacy groups emphasize that extortion decreased during student protests but has since resumed, making essential food items unaffordable for ordinary households.
The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission confirmed that unlawful toll collection, profiteering by intermediaries, insufficient data, and poor monitoring are driving this crisis. Price differences demonstrate the severity, with hyacinth beans costing farmers 27-40 taka per kilogram but selling for 160-220 taka in Dhaka markets. Consumer advocacy groups emphasize that extortion decreased during student protests but has since resumed, making essential food items unaffordable for ordinary households.
