Prices of healthcare products go up

The prices of healthcare products including mask and hand sanitizer went up in capital Dhaka as the infection rate of coronavirus took a deteriorating turn across the country over the last few days.

The demand for protective equipment like mask, hand glove, hat and hand sanitizer has increased after the nationwide seven-day lockdown enforced from Monday. And the sellers increased the prices taking the advantage of rising demand.

Besides, the prices of disinfecting spray and hand wash items in the market were seen as usual during field visits by Business Insider Bangladesh reporters at several shops in the capital this afternoon.

Altaf Ali, a mask seller at Karwan Bazar, said the price of a box containing 50 pieces of surgical mask has been increased by up to Tk30 to Tk50 based on quality soon after the lockdown announcement on Saturday.

“Now a 50-piece box of surgical mask is selling at Tk120 to Tk150. We used to sell two masks at Tk10 but now, we are selling per piece at Tk10.” Ali added.

“The prices of masks have increased at wholesale level and thus we are forced to increase the retail prices,” he added.

Jalal Ahmed, a staff of a medicine shop on Green Road, said he earlier bought a box of three-layer Indian mask at Tk150 but on Monday its price increased to Tk220.

He, however, said sanitizer and hand glove are selling at previous prices.

Besides while talking to the reporters, some buyers expressed their irritation as the prices of the personal proactive equipment went up within a moment soon after the lockdown was enforced.

The law enforcement agencies should monitor the situation to keep the prices of these items under control, they observed.