The retail price of watermelons in Dhaka, Bangladesh, has reached a record high of Tk 60 a kg despite a bumper crop this year. The large price gap between farmers and retailers, along with extortion during transportation, contributes to the high price. The Department of Agriculture Marketing predicts a harvest of 1.9 million tonnes if the weather holds. However, the price gap and a syndicate's profit-taking have made the fruit unaffordable for those with limited income. The Consumers Association of Bangladesh has called on the government to set reasonable prices at both wholesale and retail levels to benefit both consumers and farmers.