The prices of essential commodities like onion, broiler chicken and most of the winter vegetables remained high in Dhaka city's kitchen markets on Friday.
A kilogram of onion was sold between Tk 75 and Tk 80 at retail level on the day -- up by Tk 30 in a week.
A Shyambazar wholesaler told the FE that onion import from India falls in the run-up to Durga Puja, coupled with a bit high price of the spice there.
He also attributed the hike in prices loack at home to a deficit in supply from internal sources.
Priees of broiler chieken and Sonali variety have increased by Tk 10 and Tk 20 per kilo respectively.
Retailers sold a kilo of broiler between Tk 175 and Tk 180 on Friday which was at Tk 165-170 just a week back.
In the first week of September, broiler was traded between Tk 120 and Tk 130 a kg, showing an increase by Tk 60 in a span of one month.
Sonali was sold at Tk 320-340 per kg on Friday which was at Tk 300-320 just a week before.
Last month, sonali was priced between Tk 210 and Tk 230 a kg.
Talking to the FE, Kaptanbazar chicken traders said farm owners reduced the production of chicken seeking a poor trend in prices last month.
Prices of chickens have soared for an increased demand following the reopening of hotels and eateries, and resumption of social functions like marriage ceremony, birthday and other social parties.
"Broiler now sells at Tk 180 a kg. We won't be able to consume it considering high price," Rizia Banu, a domestic aid told the FE at Shantinagar kitchen market.
Even carrot, a winter vegetable, sold at Tk 120-140 a kg, tomato at Tk 100-120, papaya at Tk 40-45, pointed gourd at Tk 50-60, okra at Tk 50-60 and snake gourd at Tk 50-60 and green chilli at Tk 160-200 a kg on Friday.
However, traders hope the prices of winter vegetables will come down in the next couple of days after sufficient arrival of such greens in the market.
Meanwhile, a kilo of beef was sold between Tk 600 and Tk 650 while mutton between Tk 900 and Tk 1000 at retail level the same day.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com