DHAKA — Kitchen market prices in the capital climbed again this week, with most vegetables selling for more than 60 taka per kilogram and egg prices rising even as Sonali chicken held steady, traders said.
The picture emerged from a Friday survey of Karwan Bazar and several nearby markets on May 8.
Dhaka’s egg market has been unsettled over the past week. Prices have risen by 10 taka a dozen, with red eggs selling at 140 taka and white eggs at 130 taka.
Sellers said the increase was driven by a supply shortage.
“Egg supply has fallen in the market,” said Mohammad Shameem, an egg vendor. “That is why wholesale prices are up. We have to sell at higher retail prices as a result.”
In the poultry market, Sonali chicken prices were relatively stable, but other varieties rose. Broiler chicken is now selling for 170-180 taka per kilogram, indigenous chicken jumped 40 taka to 780 taka, Sonali chicken is at 350 taka, and layer chicken rose 20 taka to 370 taka.
Beef and mutton prices were stable, with beef at 800 taka per kilogram and mutton at 1,250 taka.
Pressure on the vegetable market continued. Most vegetables now sell for more than 60 taka per kilogram. Pointed gourd is selling at 60 taka per kilogram, spiny gourd at 100 taka, okra at 50 taka, papaya at 100 taka, eggplant at 80-100 taka and tomato at 50-60 taka. Bottle gourd sells for 70-80 taka apiece, and lemons for 20-40 taka per dozen.
“Supply in the market is low,” said Jahangir Alam, a vegetable seller. “Vegetables are not coming in properly from the countryside, and transport costs have gone up. So the price pressure falls on us too. We do not raise prices on purpose; this is the state of the market.”
Other staples have also shown an upward trend. Sugar has risen 5 taka per kilogram in a week to 110 taka. Loose wheat flour and refined flour are up 5-10 taka per kilogram, with loose wheat flour selling at 55 taka per kilogram and loose refined flour at 65-70 taka.
Cardamom has risen by as much as 400 taka per kilogram. It is now selling at 4,800-5,400 taka per kilogram, compared with 4,500-5,000 taka previously.
Buyers said the broad-based price increases were making daily expenses hard to manage.
“On one hand incomes are not rising, on the other hand the price of something goes up every day,” said Rakib Hossain, a shopper. “If this continues, running a household will become difficult.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report