Egg prices jump again, veggies also become dearer

Egg prices have again jumped to at least Tk 140 a dozen at the retail level in Dhaka. It was seen the price shot up to Tk 150 a dozen in small shops in the city, up from Tk 130 just two days ago.

This is the second time in a month that the egg price saw a sudden spike in the name of rising feed prices. A month ago, the price of a dozen eggs rose to Tk 165 hurting lower-end consumers to meet their protein requirements.

Besides, the prices of daily commodities including rice, lentil, oil and sugar are already higher in the markets.

Consumers now have to pay Tk 5 to Tk 10 more per kilogram of any kind of vegetable.

Business Insider Bangladesh correspondents found this while visiting kitchen markets including Mohammadpur Townhall Market, Farmgate and Kawran Bazar wholesale markets.

The latest spate of price increases comes at a time when the government agencies like the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection loosened vigilance, consumers said. During the unusual price hike of eggs in the previous month, different government agencies carried out raids, which ultimately helped the prices go down.

Meanwhile, the prices of broiler chicken rose by Tk 10 per kg to Tk 170 to Tk 180 at Kawran Bazar market, while Sonali chicken is being sold at Tk 300 to Tk 320, up by Tk 20 from a week ago.

“We buy at a higher rate and have to sell accordingly. We have nothing to do. A well-organized syndicate is trying to create instability in the egg market and the government should deal with them with strong hands,” said Abdur Razzak, an egg trader at Kawran Bazar.

Besides, the prices of all kinds of vegetable items went up by Tk 10 per kilogram and most of the vegetables are being sold at Tk 50 to Tk 80 at the Kawran Bazar market.

Per kilogram of bean is being sold at Tk 140 to Tk 160, per kilogram of pumpkin at Tk 40, per piece of middle-sized gourd at Tk 50 to Tk 60 and per kilogram of green chilli is being sold at Tk 100 to Tk 120 which was Tk 60 to Tk 80 a week ago.

Traders said that the vegetable prices went up as many farmlands have already been washed away due to the torrential flood in different parts of the country.

Ali Ahmed a vegetable trader said the vegetable price goes up normally when excess rain occurs in the country.

Supply is quite adequate, price increases only because of the fuel oil price, he added.

Despite taking some measures by the government, there is little change in the rice and flour prices in the market. Rather, the price per kilogram of flour increased by Tk 2.

Per kilogram of beef is being sold at Tk 650 to Tk 700 while mutton is at Tk 900 and Tk 1,000.

Per piece of Rohu fish based on size is being sold at Tk 250 to Tk 350 and per kilogram of pangasius and tilapia fishes is being sold at Tk 150 to Tk 180 respectively at Kawran Bazar market.

The overall market situation has made consumers concerned and forced them to cut spending as their income did not increase.