BM Desk: As Eid-ul-Fitr draws near, there has been an increase in the prices of chicken, rice, and spices. In contrast, vegetable prices have remained stable. A visit to several markets, including Karwan Bazar, Taltala Market in Agargaon, Mohammadpur Krishi Market, and Town Hall Market on Friday (21 March), revealed that the cost of broiler chicken has risen by Tk20 per kg over the past week, while fine rice has seen an increase of Tk5 to Tk8 per kg in the last two weeks. Furthermore, the prices of lemons and aubergines continue to be elevated.
On a positive note, there has been a slight reduction in the prices of Sonali chicken and farm eggs, while staples like potatoes, onions, and various vegetables have maintained their prices. On Thursday, broiler chicken was priced between Tk210 and Tk220 per kg, up from Tk190 to Tk200 just two days earlier.
A seller commented, “As Eid approaches, poultry farmers are holding back on the number of chickens they release into the wholesale market, which is driving prices up. It’s typical for chicken prices to rise in anticipation of Eid.” Despite the increase in broiler prices, Sonali chicken has seen a minor decrease in cost.
Sonali chicken prices vary by type, currently ranging from Tk260 to Tk280 per kg, reflecting a decrease of Tk10 to Tk20 compared to the previous week. Farm eggs have also experienced a decline, with a dozen available for Tk110 to Tk120 in Dhaka’s markets, although prices tend to be slightly higher in residential areas.
The prices for beef and mutton have remained stable at Tk750 per kg and Tk1,150 per kg, respectively. At the beginning of Ramadan, the costs of lemons, aubergines, and cucumbers surged. Although there has been a slight reduction, these items are still considered pricey. Earlier in Ramadan, lemons were priced at Tk50 to Tk80 per hali (four pieces), but this has since dropped to Tk40 to Tk70, which was also the price observed on Thursday. Aubergines are currently priced between Tk60 and Tk100 per kg, while hybrid cucumbers remain steady at Tk60 to Tk80 per kg, unchanged from last week.
The cost of Miniket rice has once again increased, with retailers noting a rise of Tk5–8 per kilogram over the last two weeks. Well-known brands like Rashid, Diamond, Sagar, and Mozammel are currently priced between Tk85 and Tk88 per kg, while Mozammel rice stands out as the priciest at Tk98–100 per kg.
Traders have linked this price hike to the conclusion of the Aman season, which has resulted in diminished stock levels and elevated paddy prices. Consequently, sales of Miniket rice have seen a downturn, although prices for medium and coarse rice varieties have remained stable.
Consumers have begun to stock up on essentials for Eid, particularly items such as vermicelli, noodles, polao rice, and various spices. Sellers anticipate a surge in sales within the next five to six days.
While most products related to Eid have maintained stable prices, cardamom has experienced a notable increase in cost. The price of large cardamom has risen to Tk5,400 per kg, and smaller varieties are now priced between Tk4,000 and Tk4,500 per kg, reflecting a Tk400 increase over the past two weeks.
On another note, the availability of bottled soybean oil has improved, although it still falls short of meeting the current demand, as reported by retailers.
