Meat, fish prices up, vegetables, fruits down

Staff Reporter :
In the lead-up to Eid, notable price increases were observed in beef, chicken, and fish at Dhaka’s kitchen markets, whereas staples like rice, edible oil, sugar, wheat, and flour maintained stable pricing.

This pricing trend coincided with a slight decrease in the demand for vegetables, onions, and fruits, including seasonal local fruits such as watermelon, pineapple, and imported fruits, as holiday-goers began leaving the capital.

Market visits across Karwan Bazar, Mohakhali, Malibagh, and Hatirpool revealed a slight uptick in the prices of beef, chicken, and fish on Friday, April 5.

According to wholesalers and retailers, the surge in meat and chicken prices can be attributed to a temporary demand spike leading up to Eid, while the escalation in fish prices was due to reduced market supply.

Karwan Bazar butcher Abu Bakar reported that beef was retailing at Tk750 per kg, with mutton and goat meat priced at Tk1000 and Tk1100 per kg, respectively.

Despite the scrutiny from City Corporation and Ministry of Commerce officials ensuring market stability, traders like Bakar noted a marginal decrease in profit margins due to a slight drop in cattle supply compared to the previous Eid.

However, prices varied outside of Karwan Bazar, with beef ranging from Tk 750 to 800 per kg depending on quality, marking a Tk 30 per kg increase from regular prices.

Mutton and goat meat prices ranged from Tk1000 to 1180 per kg, reflecting a Tk 50 increase.

Broiler chicken prices also witnessed a rise, selling between Tk 240 to 260 per kg, up from last week’s Tk 220. Sonali chicken prices jumped to Tk 350 to 380 per kg, while cock, layer, and indigenous (desi) chicken varieties saw similar price hikes. Market insiders attribute the rise in chicken prices to increased costs of chicken feed and broiler chicks.

Vegetable prices, however, dipped on Friday due to falling demand, though prices for newly introduced vegetables such as okra, drumsticks, and bitter gourd remained stable, ranging from Tk 60 to 140 per kg. Tomato prices spiked as the season waned, with quality tomatoes fetching between Tk 60 to 70 per kg.

Other vegetables, including brinjal, were priced between Tk 30 to 50 per kg, with bottle gourd, ash gourd, and cauliflower going for Tk 40 to 60 per piece. Onion prices ranged from Tk30 to 60 per kg, while garlic and ginger were priced between Tk180 to 250 and Tk200 to 280 per kg, respectively, based on quality.

Egg prices saw a minor reduction, with a dozen brown eggs selling at Tk130, duck eggs at Tk70 per hali (four pieces), and home-reared hen eggs at Tk80 per hali.

Watermelon prices dropped significantly, with top-quality watermelons available at Tk40 per kg. Pineapples were priced between Tk 20 to 35 each, depending on size and quality.

Guavas and ripe papayas were priced between Tk 50 to 70 per kg and Tk 100 to 140 per kg, respectively, marking a decrease from the early weeks of Ramadan.

Meanwhile, apples, malta, oranges, and Nashi pears were sold between Tk 260 to 340 per kg, down from Tk 360 to 370 per kg in the initial weeks of Ramadan.

Prices for other kitchen essentials remained unchanged this week.”