Festive demand pushes food prices up

With Eid just around the corner, shopping activity across Dhaka has surged, as households rush to stock up on essential food items and festive ingredients.

Markets are bustling not only with buyers visiting clothing stores but also with those heading to kitchen markets to prepare for the celebrations.

Shoppers are focusing on key items such as sugar, semai (vermicelli), aromatic rice and spices—staples for traditional Eid dishes. Areas like Jatrabari, Kaptan Bazar and Segunbagicha have seen particularly busy scenes, with vendors displaying semai in a wide range of types, shapes and colours.

Both the thin chikon semai and the richer laccha variety are in high demand. Chikon semai is currently priced between Tk 80 and Tk 100 per kilogram, while laccha semai ranges from Tk 225 to Tk 500 depending on quality and brand. At Kaptan Bazar, buyers like Md Habib said chikon semai is a household necessity, used in multiple dishes, while laccha is usually reserved for guests.

Traders report that both loose and packaged semai are available. Loose laccha semai is priced around Tk 200–220 per kilogram, while packaged semai — sold in 180–200 gram packets — costs between Tk 45 and Tk 70. Packaged products are popular for their longer shelf life and hygiene, though some buyers remain cautious about claims regarding the use of ghee or dalda in lower-priced options. Overall, semai prices have remained largely stable compared to last year.

Demand for nuts and spices has also risen sharply. Sugar is selling at Tk 100 per kilogram, while milk powder ranges from Tk 350 to Tk 480 per half kilogram depending on brand. Cashew nuts are priced at Tk 1,300 per kilogram, up Tk 100 from last year, while raisins range from Tk 800 to Tk 1,200 per kilogram. Spice prices have climbed, with cardamom rising to Tk 4,700 per kilogram from Tk 3,200 six months ago.

Edible oils have seen notable increases, with prices rising by Tk 10–15 per litre amid limited supply and weak market oversight. Bottled soybean oil, in particular, is scarce, pushing retail prices to Tk 200–205 per litre in many areas. Wholesalers are selling at Tk 195–196 per litre, placing pressure on small retailers, according to Abidul Islam, a grocer in Jatrabari.

Poultry prices have risen ahead of Eid, with broiler chicken selling at around Tk 220 per kilogram and “golden” chicken at Tk 320. Beef prices remain steady at Tk 750–850 per kilogram, while eggs are priced at Tk 115–120 per dozen. Vegetable prices have remained relatively stable, with potatoes at Tk 20 per kilogram and green chillies continuing to fetch higher rates of Tk 100–120.

Traders note that while some price increases reflect higher demand, supply constraints —particularly for oils, nuts and spices — have also contributed to rising costs. As Eid approaches, kitchen markets across the capital are expected to remain crowded, with shoppers navigating both price fluctuations and limited availability of certain items.