Viral Five-Taka Jackfruit Video Sparks Consumer Confusion in Chattogram Market
A video circulating on social media showing a fruit vendor in Chittagong selling jackfruit for as little as five taka has drawn crowds of frustrated customers to the city's Station Road wholesale market, only for many to find that the bargain prices no longer exist.
The vendor, Mohammad Masud, who operates a retail stall near the wholesale fruit hub, confirmed that the viral footage was filmed over a week ago during the Eid-ul-Adha holidays. At that time, with the city largely deserted as residents traveled to their ancestral homes, demand plummeted. Rather than discarding his unsold inventory, Masud opted to sell the fruit at a nominal price to avoid a total loss, eventually absorbing a personal deficit of approximately 60,000 taka.
Current market conditions, however, reflect a sharp turnaround. With the holiday period over and the city’s population returning, coupled with recent rainfall affecting supply, prices for jackfruit have climbed significantly. Customers arriving at the market expecting the five-taka price point—such as Shahinur Islam, who traveled from the GEC area—have expressed disappointment to find current rates ranging between 150 and 300 taka depending on the size of the fruit.
Masud remains transparent about the market dynamics, pointing to piles of discarded, blackened, and spoiled jackfruit near his stall as evidence of the perishability of his stock and the initial lack of demand. He emphasized that the five-taka pricing was a desperate measure taken during a period of near-zero commercial activity, rather than a standard market price.
The Station Road market, situated near the old railway station, serves primarily low- and middle-income residents, specializing in seasonal fruits like jackfruit, pineapple, and bananas. While high-end fruits such as mangoes, lychees, and imported varieties are concentrated at the nearby BRTC fruit market, local vendors at Station Road rely on steady foot traffic from pedestrians and mobile vendors.
Other traders in the area corroborate the shift in the market. According to local merchants, the return of city residents has revitalized demand, pushing prices upward for better-quality produce. Mohammad Ali Hossain, president of the Chittagong Fruit Traders Association, stated that the market is currently well-supplied with jackfruit, noting that prices remain within an acceptable range despite the fluctuations caused by seasonal demand.
