TDS Desk:

The prices of rice, broiler and Sonali chicken have surged in the capital’s kitchen markets, while the costs of vegetables, including onion and potato, have declined. Meanwhile, the supply of bottled soybean oil remains inconsistent, causing discomfort among consumers on Saturday. Many shoppers expressed concern over the volatile market, where the price of one essential drops as another rises.

Rice prices have increased by Tk100–300 per sack in the past week, leading to a Tk2–6 rise per kilogram at the retail level, said Sohel Hossain, a grocery shop owner at Mirpur 13.

Coarse rice is now priced at Tk60–64 per kilogram, while Swarna and Paijam varieties have also seen price hikes despite being harvested during the Aman season.

Miniket rice was sold for Tk72–75 per kilogram and Nazirshail rice has reached Tk80 per kilogram. Retailers attribute the surge to rising mill prices, which, in turn, are blamed on the high cost of paddy, currently selling at Tk1,500 per maund.

After weeks of stability, broiler and Sonali chicken prices have risen sharply. Broiler chicken now costs Tk210–220 per kilogram, up from Tk180–190 a week ago, while Sonali chicken prices have increased to Tk330–340 per kilogram, compared to Tk290–310. Retailers report that supply disruptions since Wednesday night have driven the price hikes.

Tanzin Hasan, a private sector employee, expressed frustration, “We largely depend on Sonali and broiler chicken, but their prices have suddenly increased.”

Despite a recent government-mandated price increase of Tk8 per litre for soybean oil, its supply has not normalised. Bottled soybean oil was unavailable in most grocery shops on Friday, while loose soybean oil was being sold at a steep Tk185 per litre.

Retailers report that suppliers have imposed mandatory purchases of other goods, such as flour and lentils, to deliver soybean oil. Distributors confirm that refiners have yet to release sufficient stock at the new prices.

Onion prices have eased significantly, with newly harvested local onions selling for Tk70–80 per kilogram, down from Tk140–150 a month ago. Imported onions are priced at Tk75–80 per kilogram.

New potatoes, previously sold at Tk120 per kilogram, are now available at Tk60, while old potatoes have dropped to Tk60–65 per kilogram due to increased supply.

Winter vegetables have also become more affordable. At Mirpur markets, beans were selling for Tk50 per kilogram (down by Tk20), cauliflower for Tk30–40 per piece and cabbage for Tk40 each. Bottle gourd was priced at Tk40–60 per piece, ripe tomatoes at Tk100 per kilogram (down by Tk20) and carrots at Tk70–80 per kilogram.

Other vegetable prices included radish (Tk30 per kilogram), cucumber (Tk60), eggplant (Tk60–80), bitter gourd (Tk70–80), pointed gourd (Tk70–80), okra (Tk70), yardlong beans (Tk100), green papaya (Tk30–40), sponge gourd (Tk70), snake gourd (Tk70), ridge gourd (Tk80–100) and green chillies (Tk80–100).