The price of broiler chicken has fallen by Tk 10 to 20 in the market, depending on quality, and Sonali chicken has also become cheaper. But hilsa, the Pohela Boishakh favourite, remains as expensive as before.

This was seen during visits to various markets in the capital on Tuesday (14 April).

Shopkeepers and buyers said broiler chicken was Tk 200 to 210 a kg last Friday and is selling at Tk 180-190 today. Sonali chicken was Tk 420 to 430 a kg last week and is selling at Tk 380 to 410 today.

Shahabuddin, a trader at the Mirpur 1 kitchen market, said the price of hybrid Sonali has come down and it is selling at Tk 370 to 380 a kg. Broiler prices have also fallen, and good-quality Sonali is selling at Tk 410.

Sadik Hasan, a chicken seller at the temporary market next to the Ansar camp, said wholesale prices have been a little lower since Saturday. "There was some unease in the chicken market, and that has started to ease."

Hilsa weighing over 1 kg is selling at Tk 3,700 to 4,000. Sellers are asking Tk 1,800 to 2,000 for hilsa of 800 to 900 grams. Hilsa of 200 to 250 grams costs Tk 1,000 to 1,200 a kg, and hilsa of 300 to 400 grams Tk 1,200 to 1,500 a kg. But there were few buyers at the hilsa stalls.

That is despite today being Pohela Boishakh, when the new year seems to mean panta-ilish. Sellers said hilsa sold well all day and night yesterday, but sales were somewhat lower in the morning.

At Pallabi's Muslim Bazar, buyer Alamgir Hossain said the price of hilsa is high, but the children ask for hilsa for the new year and many people come to the house. "So even though the price is high, I am looking for a small hilsa of 500-700 grams."

Visits to the Farmgate, Taltola and Agargaon kitchen markets found vegetables selling at high prices as before. Pointed gourd is selling at Tk 100 a kg, okra at Tk 80, round aubergine at Tk 80, yardlong bean at Tk 100, ridge gourd at Tk 80, papaya at Tk 60 and snake gourd at Tk 100. Green chillies are selling at Tk 120 to 140 a kg.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.