Hilsa prices drop, vegetable market on rise

Business Report :

Prices of hilsa fish dropped in Dhaka’s kitchen markets on Friday, the weekly holiday, but the vegetable market showed an upward trend. Prices of onions, eggs, and chicken have also increased.

During a visit to several kitchen markets in the capital it was found that small-sized hilsa, which had been selling for Tk 800 to Tk 900 per kg, was being sold today at Tk 650 to Tk 700.

The price of medium-sized hilsa, which had ranged from Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,000 per kg, has dropped to Tk 1,400 to Tk 1,600. Hilsa weighing one kilogram or more, which sold for Tk 2,400 to Tk 2,600 just a few days ago, is now priced between Tk 2,000 and Tk 2,300.

Despite the drop in hilsa prices, other fish are selling at previous rates. Rui and katla are priced between Tk 380 and Tk 450 per kg depending on size; shing and magur between Tk 450 and Tk 500; tilapia between Tk 180 and Tk 250; boal and coral between Tk 900 and Tk 1,200; and golda (giant freshwater prawn) is selling for Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,500, while bagda (black tiger shrimp) is priced at Tk 750 to Tk 850.

The price of beef has slightly decreased. While beef was sold at Tk 800 per kg in most markets, today it is being sold at Tk 750 to Tk 780. However, mutton is still being sold at previous rates, Tk 1,100 to Tk 1,200 per kg.

Chicken prices have surged. The price of broiler chicken has increased by Tk 10 to Tk 15 per kg. While it was Tk 160 per kg last week, it is now selling between Tk 170 and Tk 180, depending on the location. Prices of Sonali chickens have also gone up. Pakistani Sonali chicken, which was Tk 300 per kg last week, is now being sold for Tk 320 to Tk 330.

Alongside chicken, egg prices have also increased. In wholesale markets such as Karwan Bazar and Kaptan Bazar, a dozen brown broiler eggs are selling at Tk 130. In retail, prices are Tk 135 to Tk 140 per dozen. White eggs are slightly cheaper, selling at Tk 125 to Tk 130 per dozen.

Meanwhile, the vegetable market is seeing particularly high prices for green chilies. At Karwan Bazar and Mohammadpur Town Hall kitchen markets, green chilies are priced between Tk 150 and Tk 160 per kg, while in areas like Shantinagar, Rampura, and Badda, the price has reached Tk 200 per kg.

Cucumber, carrots, tomatoes, and eggplants are all selling above Tk 100 per kg. Prices of other vegetables range between Tk 40 and Tk 80.