Prices of essentials rise ahead of Eid

Prices of key daily essentials, including egg, vegetables, meat and fish, have risen sharply in Dhaka’s kitchen markets, putting pressure on consumers’ pockets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

Traders attributed the latest spike to seasonal rain, supply shortages, and growing Eid demand.

While visiting several retail and wholesale markets, including Shewrapara, Kazipara, Senpara, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, and Mirpur-1, this correspondent yesterday found that prices of many daily essentials have continued to climb. Egg, vegetables, and spices are among the items with the steepest price hikes.

A dozen eggs were selling for Tk 150 in most kitchen markets, up from Tk 135-140 per dozen just a week ago.

Consumers said egg price started to increase after Ramadan and has been going up gradually since then.

Talking to The Daily Star, Ahmed Hossain, who works at a private organisation, said, “I became frustrated with the current price of a dozen eggs at a market in Mohammadpur. It was Tk 150, whereas it was Tk 130 only a couple of days ago.”

Chicken prices, however, were comparatively stable. Broiler chicken was selling for Tk 170-180 per kg yesterday, while Sonali chicken was priced between Tk 330 and Tk 350.

Over the past week, consumers have been paying at least Tk 10 more per kg for onions. Local onions cost Tk 45-50 a kg yesterday, which was Tk 35-40 a week ago.

Talking to The Daily Star, Abdul Hakim, a spice trader at Mirpur kitchen market, said wholesale prices went up sharply in recent days. “Earlier, we bought onions at Tk 30 a kg and sold them at Tk 33-35. Now we are buying them at Tk 40-42 a kg.”

Sajib Sheikh, an onion trader at Karwan Bazar, the largest wholesale kitchen market in the capital, said demand for the cooking item usually rises ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. “Many traders are releasing smaller quantities into the market anticipating further price hikes.”

Ginger prices also surged significantly over the past week.

Traders said the spice was selling for Tk 170-190 per kg, while better-quality ginger crossed Tk 200 in some markets.

Meanwhile, local garlic prices remained largely stable due to adequate supply in the market.

Vegetable prices have remained high for nearly a month, consumers said, adding that even light rains were pushing the cost further up.

Most vegetables were selling above Tk 70-80 a kg yesterday.

Papaya, considered one of the cheapest vegetables in the market, cost Tk 60-80 per kg, while better-quality papaya reached Tk 100.

Hanif Mia, a vegetable vendor in East Shewrapara, said rain disrupts vegetable collection from fields. “When water accumulates in the fields, supply falls and prices go up.”

Talking to this correspondent, Nazim Uddin, who works at a Begunbari factory, said his mother is suffering from kidney disease. As she cannot eat all vegetables, he buys papaya for her. Yesterday, he bought it for Tk 100 per kg at Kawran Bazar.

“If this continues, it will be difficult for me and other low-income people to manage our families,” Nazim said, calling for stronger market monitoring so that traders cannot raise prices in the name of supply shortages.

Brinjal was selling for Tk 90-120 a kg depending on quality, while okra, snake gourd, sponge gourd, and ridge gourd cost Tk 80-100 a kg.

Prices of bitter gourd, yardlong beans, and teasel gourd were even higher, ranging between Tk 100 and Tk 120 per kg.

Fish traders said shrimp prices saw one of the sharpest increases this week, hitting customers hard.

Delwar Hossain, a fish trader at Karwan Bazar, said fish prices tend to rise slightly every Friday, but shrimp prices increased unusually this week.

Horina shrimp, which sold for Tk 750-800 per kg last week, cost Tk 900-1,000 yesterday, he said.

Jalal Hawlader, a fish trader at Mirpur-1 kitchen market, said fish supply generally declines during the monsoon season, pushing up prices.

According to him, prices of farmed fish such as rohu, katla, mrigel, tilapia and pangas increased by Tk 10-20 per kg.

Beef prices also increased ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

Mohammad Bashir, a meat trader in Kazipara, told this newspaper that cattle prices rose by Tk 5,000-7,000 per head over the past month. As a result, beef prices surged to Tk 820 per kg from Tk 780-800 previously.

He, however, believes the hike is temporary and linked to Eid demand.