Only a few days ago it was Tk 110–120. Now, in one leap, it is close to Tk 200. The price of broiler chicken has suddenly risen by Tk 80–90 a kg. The government has also stopped exports of soya meal, a key raw material for chicken feed, and chicken prices should normally fall at this time of year. So why have they risen? Talking to traders, the reason given was one: making up for coronavirus losses. With weddings and events on hold for so long, demand for chicken was low; now demand has risen all at once, and that is why prices have been raised.

The same picture holds across the market. Despite ample production, and even with tonnes rotting, onions that cost Tk 40 a kg a month and a half ago are now Tk 70. Sugar that was Tk 60 now costs Tk 80. From vegetables to rice, lentils and oil, prices are climbing. The prices of at least a dozen daily essentials, including atta and maida flour, have risen afresh.

Data from the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) show that this week the prices of atta, maida, lentils, garlic, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and cloves rose. There is no relief in the vegetable market either, with most above Tk 70. Green chillies cost Tk 150–200 a kg. Coarse rice is still Tk 50 a kg, while Najirshail sells for Tk 65–70, Miniket for Tk 60–65 and Atash for Tk 55.

Compared with last week, broiler prices in the capital's markets have risen by up to Tk 10 a kg. A tour of several Dhaka markets on Friday, 15 October, found broilers selling for Tk 190. Last week they were Tk 175–180; two weeks ago, Tk 165; and in early September, Tk 120–130.

Golam Kibria Kamal, a resident of Manik Nagar in the capital, said: "Broiler at Tk 100 a kg has become Tk 200. Nobody cares. For people on low incomes, even eating rice with vegetables is hard. Every vegetable is over Tk 70 a kg."

Traders say that, like broilers, the price of Pakistani cock or Sonali chicken has risen in steps. From Tk 210–230 in early September, it is now Tk 330–350. A week ago it was about the same, and two weeks ago it was Tk 300.

Ratan Ali, a trader at Mugda market, said that at other times broiler prices are low before winter, but this year is an exception, and the supply of chicken in the market is also low.

Azmal Hossain, a trader at Malibagh market, said more broilers are going to restaurants, and events have also increased, so more chicken is needed.

Eggs, on the other hand, which sold for Tk 38–40 a hali (four) last week, have come down to Tk 36.

Garlic is Tk 130–140 a kg, up from Tk 125 the week before. Round potatoes remain at Tk 20 in most places. Grocery shops are selling soybean oil for Tk 140–150, coarse lentils for Tk 95–100 and fine lentils for Tk 100–110.

Winter vegetables have begun to reach the market even before winter, but buyers on limited incomes can hardly afford them. A tour of several vegetable markets in the capital found carrots and tomatoes selling at the highest prices: depending on quality, a kilogram of Chinese carrots costs Tk 140–160, and tomatoes Tk 100–120 a kg.

Beans are selling for Tk 100, as last week. Ridge gourd is Tk 50 a kg, and small cauliflowers and cabbages Tk 50 each. Radish is Tk 60, bitter gourd Tk 70–80, snake gourd Tk 60, pointed gourd Tk 60, okra Tk 60 and yardlong beans Tk 80. Green bananas cost Tk 30 to 35 a hali, though bunches of various leafy greens are still Tk 10–15.

Vegetable sellers say there is no shortage of vegetables in the market, but prices at the wholesale depots are high. Having bought at high prices, retailers are forced to sell high.

With news of imports, onions that were Tk 80 last week are now Tk 70; on Thursday (14 October) they were Tk 75. With the National Board of Revenue (NBR) withdrawing the duty on onion imports, however, prices fell by Tk 10 a kg in a single day.

There is no relief at the fish market either. Rui sells for Tk 250–280 a kg, pangas for Tk 100–140, large pabda for Tk 450–500, small tilapia for Tk 100–120, golda prawns for Tk 700–750 and shing for Tk 400–500 a kg. Small kachki costs Tk 400 and mola Tk 300 a kg.

Amanul Haq, a shopper in Manik Nagar, said: "After cleaning a broiler, you get at most 600 grams of meat per kilo. At Tk 200 a kg, a kilogram of meat comes to Tk 330. So I'm thinking of eating vegetables or small fish with this money instead."

Source: Dhaka Tribune. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.