Staff Reporter :
The price of broiler chicken, egg and fish have gone beyond as people from middle and low income group people are feeling force to cut their protein source from their meal.
Almost all daily essentials prices have hiked further making more pressure on lower and middle income group.
Within one week the price of fish, broiler chicken and egg has increased about Tk 100-200, Tk56-60 and Tk15-20 respectively.
In the kitchen market the price of broiler chicken has increased more and now per kilogram broiler chicken being sold at Tk 210 to Tk220 whereas one week earlier it was Tk 155 to Tk 160 per kg while Pakistani variety of chicken is Tk 300 to Tk320per kg.
The egg price per dozen has increased to at Tk 140 to Tk145 in the capital, whereas two weeks ago it was sold at Tk 115-120.
Karwan Bazar egg trader Ezzazul Hoque said short supply in whole sale market as the main reason. As a result, the egg price rose by Tk 20 to Tk 25per dozen.
The scenario of fish market is more pathetic then others. There is no fish less then Tk 220 to Tk250 in the market. The common fish of poor people named ‘Telapia’ and ‘Pangas’ are being sold at Tk 220 to Tk250 respectively.
Other fish prices has gone beyond from the low and middle income group people.
On the other hand, there is no change in rice market as all kind of rice is being sold at high price. There is no rice at under Tk 50. Coarse rice price has decreased Tk 2 few days earlier now it also being sold at high price at Tk50.
After visiting capital Khilgoan Taltola and Malibagh market it was seen that a kg of coarse rice is being sold above Tk 50. Medium quality BR 28 rice is being sold above Tk 60 per kg. Miniket rice is available for a maximum of Tk75. And the price of Nazirshail rice is falling between Tk75 and Tk85.
As such, none knows when these food items will return to the comfort.
In the market it was seen that the loose sugar is being sold at Tk 110 to Tk 115 per kg while the government rate is Tk 102 and Tk 107 respectively.
Prices of vegetables including cauliflower, beans, cabbage, radish, brinjal, green pepper, papaya, and potato have gone down by taka 5 to taka 15 per kg at the weekend.
Early varieties of beans, which were sold at Tk 200 per kg, are now being sold at Tk40 per kg.
Green chili sells at Tk120 per kg. Prices of leafy vegetables including spinach in the Karwan Bazar and Moghbazar kitchen markets have also dropped five taka from 15 taka per bundle.
Visiting the markets in the capital on Friday, it was seen that the supply of winter vegetables has increased.
In Karwan Bazar, brinjal is being sold at Tk 25 to Tk 35, beans at Tk 35 to Tk 40, green chilli at Tk 40 to Tk 50, radish at Tk 35, new variety of potato at Tk 30, carrot at Tk 50 and bitter gourd at Tk 30.
Mohammad Mustafa, a vegetable seller of Kalyanpur Bazar, said that the price of vegetables has decreased.
Mohammad Rubel Hossain, a vegetable seller at Karwan Bazar, said while the prices of vegetables have decreased, the prices of other daily necessities have not.
Vegetables have been grown reportedly high in Rangpur, Bogura, Dinajpur, Munshiganj, Pabna, Jashore, Jamalpur, Narsingdi, Jhenaidah and Rajshahi. As a result, most markets now have an ample supply of winter vegetables including cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, radish, turnip, beans, tomato, onion leaves, gourd, broccoli, beans, carrot and coriander.
Ali Hossain, a salesman of Yasin General Store, Karwan Bazar, said, price of aromatic rice has increased by six taka per kg.
“We are buying at a wholesale price Tk 132, which was Tk 128. We are now selling at Tk 134 only,” he said.
In his shop, small grain lentils are priced at Tk 140 per kg, packed two Kg flour at Tk 145 and bottled soybean oil at Tk 192 per litre whereas the government has decreased Tk 5 per litter.
In the meat market, beef is selling at Tk 450 to Tk 720 while red meat is Tk 1000-1,100.