The price of lemons, especially the round-shaped medium sized variety, remains high in Dhaka's kitchen markets although the month of Ramadan is nearing its end.

Lemon prices have remained high since the start of the holy month, although prices of several other essential Ramadan items, including tomatoes, eggs and different green vegetables, have reduced over the past couple of weeks.

This morning, on the 20th day of Ramadan at Karwan Bazar kitchen market, four pieces (one hali in Bangla) of round-shaped medium sized lemons were sold at Tk 100 to Tk 120.

A similar situation was also seen at Kachukhet, Ibrahimpur and Shewrapara kitchen markets.

On the other hand, a hali of small lemons were sold at Tk 40 to Tk 60, down from Tk 50 to Tk 80, while a hali of large lemons were sold at Tk 140 to Tk 150 at these markets.

Fazal Haq, a retail lemon trader at Karwan Bazar, said he sold small lemons at Tk 40 to Tk 60 this morning, down from Tk 50 to Tk 80 at the start of Ramadan.

However, the price of large lemons remained the same throughout Ramadan, he told this newspaper.

Fazal, 53, who has been selling lemons at Karwan Bazar for about 35 years, said now is not the peak season for lemon production in the country while this year's lemon production has also been low, which contributed to the price hike during Ramadan.

Monir Hossain, a wholesale lemon trader at Karwan Bazar, said he brings in lemon to the capital's kitchen markets from various orchards in Mouvibazar district.

This year, due to lack of rain during peak season, lemon production was not as expected in Moulvibazar, which contributed to the price hike, he said.

Monir also said peak season for lemon production has gone about three months ago when he sold a medium size lemon at Tk 3 to Tk 4 at wholesale price but it now costs Tk 14 to Tk 16.

Three to four months ago, demand for lemon in the capital's markets was low while it also grew aplenty, he further said.

Md Roni, owner of a roadside tin-shed restaurant at East Shewrapara, went to Ibrahimpur kitchen market today to buy lemons to prepare lemon squash for iftar.

He said he bought medium-size lemons today at Tk 120 per hali. Price of this size of lemon was the same at the start of Ramadan.

He added that he bought similar sized lemons at Tk 60 to Tk 70 a hali about a month ago.

Roni said he bought the medium sized lemons because one piece is bigger than a hali of small lemons.

He said one lemon will be used to prepare lemon squash for 10 to 12 employees of his restaurant for iftar.