Low-middle incomers suffer immensely

TDS Desk:

The prices of egg, chicken, and fish were high while vegetables and other commodities remained stable at a higher rate in the kitchen market in the capital on Friday.

During visiting to different kitchen markets in Dhaka, Sirajganj, Bogura, Pabna and Rajshahi, our correspondents found that prices of egg, chicken, and fish increased compared to the previous week.

During heatwave and extreme climate the prices of egg and chicken shot up across the country. Farm egg price jumped by Tk20 per dozen (12 pieces) and selling a dozen at Tk 150 in the capital on Friday. Egg of domestic rearing hen is selling at Tk 75 to 80 per hali (4 pieces) and duck egg was selling at Tk 70 to 75 per hali.

The price of broiler chicken and Pakistani origin sonali chicken have increased by Tk10 to 20 per kg compared to the last two weeks. The boiler chicken was selling at Tk 220 to 235 per kg based on size and quality. Apart from this, the price of Sonali chicken has also increased and being sold at Tk 345 to 370 per kg based on size and quality.

Similarly, cock chicken is being sold at Tk 370 to 390 per kg, layer chicken at Tk 300 to Tk350 per kg, and indigenous (desi) chicken at Tk 670 to Tk 765 per kg.

The traders of the concerned sectors said that prices of chicken increased due to price hikes of chicken food and broiler chicks.

Beef was selling between Tk 750 to 780 per kg on Friday based on quality, and saw a raise of price by Tk 30 per kg than other days of the week. Mutton and goat meat was selling at Tk1000 to 1180 per kg based on quality, which saw an increase of Tk 50 per kg.

Hilsha weighing about 450 gram was selling at Tk650 per kg while Hilsha weighing 1.0 kg plus were selling at Tk 1800 to 2000 per kg at Karwan Bazar fish market on Friday. Hilsha weighing 700 to 800 grams were selling at Tk 900 to 1000 per piece.

Of the other fishes,  Puti and small fishes were selling at Tk 300 to 550 per kg, cultivated koi was selling at Tk 230 to 300 a kg, Fali Chanda (Rupchada) at Tk 1200 a kg, sheat (boal) was selling between Tk 600 to 1200 per kg, Coral Fish at Tk 550 to 700 per kg, river Pangas at Tk 700 per kg, cultivated Pangas at Tk 200 per kg, Tilapia at Tk 220 kg, Ruhit at Tk 350 to 550 per kg, medium  size carp (katol) at Tk 250-300 a kg, big size katol at Tk 400 to 500 per kg,  cat fish (Shing) at Tk 500 to 800 per kg, barbel at Tk 600 to 700 a kg, lobster at Tk 900-1100 a kg, and shrimp at Tk 500-600 per kg.

The prices of vegetables have remained stable at higher rate this time compared to the previous years. Traders blamed inflation for this higher price. Vegetables including eggplant, okra, drumsticks, string beans, and bitter gourd were stable between Tk 50 to 60 per kg on Friday. The prices of tomatoes have increased as the season is ending. Good quality tomatoes were selling between Tk 60 to 70 per kg.

Vegetables like brinjal and others were selling between Tk 40 to 50 per kg, bottle gourd, ash gourd, and cauliflower at Tk 50 to 60 per piece.

Local variety of onion was selling between Tk70 to 80 per kg, garlic at Tk180 to 250, and ginger at Tk200 to 280 per kg based on quality.

The prices of watermelon increased slightly as the season of this fruit was selling at Tk 120 to 350 per piece based on size , while pineapple was selling at Tk 30 to 45 per piece.

Guava was selling at Tk 50 to 80 per kg, Papaya (ripe) at Tk 100 to 160 per kg. Apple, Malta, orange, and Nashi pear were sold between Tk 260 to 340 per kg in the capital.

The prices of others commodities including rice, wheat, flour, milk, soybean, aromatic rice have remained unchanged.