Noman Mosharef :
For the last few months, the kitchen market in the country has been experiencing a volatile situation as the price of one commodity decreases, the other increases. And as a result, the people from low and lower income group are facing severe hardship in maintaining their daily life.
The prices of potatoes and onions have decreased by Tk10 per kg in the past week, while the price of broiler chicken has increased by Tk15 per kg.
Meanwhile, the price of Sonali chicken has increased by Tk30 to Tk50 per kg.
At the same time, the supply of bottled soybean oil remains unstable creating a deeper crisis in the market.
Our correspondent obtained the price updates after visiting the kitchen markets of Kalyanpur, Shewrapara, and Hatirpool in the capital on Friday (27 December).
Mohammad Hanif, a chicken seller from Kalyanpur, said the price of Sonali chicken is Tk340 and broiler chicken is Tk210 per kg, which was Tk310 and Tk195, respectively, last week.
As for the reasons behind such a price hike, he said, “When we go to buy wholesale, they say that chicks die in the winter. The price of feed is also high, and more social events, including weddings and picnics, are held this season. Due to these, the demand for chicken increases. All together, the price has increased.”
Manjur Islam, a seller from the same market, said the price of new local potatoes is now Tk60, compared to Tk70 last week. The price of onions has also decreased by Tk10 per kg and is now Tk60
Potatoes were being sold at Tk50 per kg, tomatoes at Tk80, radishes at Tk30, carrots at Tk60, pointed gourds at Tk50, papayas at Tk50, medium-sized cauliflowers at Tk50 for two, cabbages at Tk40 each, onion stalks at Tk15 per bunch, snake gourds at Tk60 per kg, beans at Tk50-60 per kg, medium-sized raw pumpkins at Tk60 each, green chillies at Tk60 per kg, local onions at Tk50 per kg, Indian garlic at Tk200 and local ginger at Tk120.
Additionally, bottle gourds were priced at Tk50-60 each, white aubergines at Tk60 per kg, long aubergines at Tk50 per kg, turnips at Tk30 per kg, and cucumbers at Tk50 per kg.
The fish market continues to see high prices. Rohu was sold at Tk250-400 per kg depending on size, katla at Tk300-500, tengra at Tk650, sharpunti at Tk250, mola at Tk400, native puti at Tk500-600 per kg, medium-sized prawns at Tk800 per kg, pabda at Tk350-400, native koi at Tk700, farmed koi at Tk250 and shing at Tk400-450 per kg.
Hilsa weighing 1-1.4 kg was priced at Tk2,400 each, while larger hilsa weighing 1.5 kilogrammes was sold at Tk2,800 per kg. Smaller hilsa was sold for Tk1,200 each.
Egg prices remained steady compared to the previous week. White eggs were sold at Tk130 per dozen, red eggs at Tk130-135 per dozen, and duck eggs at Tk220 per dozen.
Despite the decline in vegetable prices, rice prices continued to rise, with an increase of up to Tk3 per kilogramme. A trader from Barishal Rice Agency at Karwan Bazar blamed millers and corporate entities for manipulating the market.
Miniket rice was sold at Tk72-75 per kg, new Atash rice at Tk55-57 per kg, old Atash rice at Tk60-62 per kg, and Nazirshailrice at Tk76-82 per kilogramme.
The fluctuating market trends reflect the dual pressures of increased supply in vegetables and costlier essentials such as poultry and rice, leaving consumers with mixed relief and concern.
