Prices of goods keep rising, and stability is not returning to the market even with the month of Ramadan ahead. Ordinary traders believe a class of dishonest rings, or market syndicates, is largely responsible. The ministries concerned have repeatedly said that the prices of all goods will be kept under control during Ramadan, that the country has adequate stocks of food and that markets will be monitored regularly. But the reality is different.

Visits to various markets in the capital show that the price of some food item or other rises every day. In the last 24 hours broiler chicken rose by Tk 20 to Tk 22 a kg. The day before, Saturday, it had risen by Tk 7–8 a kg. By that count, broiler prices have risen by Tk 30 to Tk 40 a kg in the three days since Friday.

Last Friday broiler chicken sold at Tk 250 to Tk 260 a kg; today, Monday, it is selling at Tk 280 to Tk 290. Sellers say chicken was already scarce because of low supply, and rain over the last two days has cut supply further, pushing prices up. They also mentioned the corporate companies' control of the market.

People in the market say the current broiler price has broken all previous records. After rising for several weeks, a kg of broiler is now selling for Tk 120 to Tk 130 more than the normal price. About a month ago broilers cost Tk 150 to Tk 160 a kg.

Retail traders say broiler chicken has never sold at such high prices in recent years. Because of the broiler price rise, the prices of sonali, cork and other local chickens have also risen. Deshi chicken went beyond the reach of ordinary people long ago.

The information was gathered by visiting Rampura, Malibagh and Segunbagicha markets in the capital from Monday morning to noon and talking to traders.

Farid Hossain, a broiler seller at Segunbagicha market, told Jagonews that last night (Sunday night) the price of broiler at Kaptan Bazar went up by Tk 20–22 a kg, and the night before (Saturday night) it rose by another Tk 5–6. Altogether, from Friday to Monday the price is up by as much as Tk 30 a kg.

He said sonali chicken prices had risen by about Tk 50 to Tk 80 a kg in a month. A few weeks ago sonali chicken sold at Tk 320 to Tk 330 a kg; now it is Tk 370–380.

At Malibagh market, deshi chicken is selling at Tk 550 to Tk 570 a kg. Its price has also changed a lot over the past month; a month ago a kg of deshi chicken could be had for under Tk 500.

Farmers say egg and chicken shortages have appeared in the market because production costs have risen and many farms have shut. That has genuinely pushed prices up somewhat, and a class of dishonest traders is taking advantage to raise them further.

Sumon Howlader, president of Bangladesh Poultry Association, told Jagonews that chicken prices had risen because of higher feed and chick prices. "But the current price is excessive. We don't want broilers sold at such high prices either, because marginal farmers are not getting the extra money. The corporate companies are taking this profit. They set the price every day. They control the market," he said.

On the same day, beef was seen selling at Tk 750 a kg and goat meat at Tk 1,200 a kg.

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