Staff Reporter :
Prices of eggs and chicken, the most accessible sources of protein for low and middle-income households, are rising despite the government’s price regulations.
The situation has been exacerbated by the increasing prices of onions, a staple in Bengali kitchens, at both the wholesale and retail levels.
On Sunday, the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) set official prices for eggs, Sonali chicken, and broiler chicken at the producer, wholesale, and retail levels.
However, a visit to three markets in Dhaka on Friday revealed that broiler chickens and eggs continue to be sold at prices above the government-fixed rates.
Consumers are being forced to pay more, with eggs now costing Tk 2.5 higher per piece than the set price. The government had announced a maximum retail price (MRP) of Tk 11.87 per egg, Tk 269 per kg for Sonali chicken, and Tk 179.5 per kg for broiler chicken.
However, in the markets, brown eggs were being sold for Tk 13.75 each.
A ‘haali’ (four eggs) was priced at Tk 55, while a dozen eggs were selling for Tk 160 to Tk 165. Even white eggs, previously priced at Tk 12.5 each, have risen to Tk 13.75 following the government’s price cap.
Broiler chicken was also found to be sold for Tk 185-190 per kilogram, which is Tk 5-10 more than the government’s price.
Anisur Rahman, a trader based in Tejgaon, stated that he was selling brown eggs to retailers at Tk 12.5 per piece, an increase from Tk 11.5 before the price was fixed. He noted that white eggs, traditionally cheaper than brown eggs by Tk 0.5 to Tk 1.0, had also seen a price rise.
Sumon Hawlader, President of the Bangladesh Poultry Association, remarked that the government’s price controls primarily benefit large poultry farms.
He emphasised that without reducing the cost of poultry feed, this initiative would offer little relief to small farmers and consumers. Hawlader also noted that importing eggs would not significantly curb prices, as imports only account for a small fraction of the 40 million eggs required daily.
SM Nazer Hossain, Vice President of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, pointed out that DAM and DLS should base their price-setting on accurate market data.
He explained that the production costs of brown and white eggs differ by Tk 0.7 to Tk 1.0 per piece, with white eggs traditionally being cheaper. Hossain urged government agencies to enforce price regulations through regular market monitoring and called for stricter oversight of large poultry farms to prevent price manipulation.
“The government must ensure that the private sector supplies 5,000 to 5,500 tonnes of chicken and 40 million eggs daily at reasonable prices, as these are the most affordable protein sources for the masses,” Hossain said.