The prices of both chicken and egg increased further last week which traders attributed to a rising demand of the commodities ahead of the national election and New Year.
The prices of some varieties of rice also went up at wholesale levels in the last two days, ending on Thursday.
The 11th parliamentary election will be held on December 30 just one day before the New Year celebration.
Prices of broiler chicken witnessed a considerable hike on Thursday. It was selling at Tk 135-Tk 140 per kilogram while layer chicken at Tk 170-Tk 175 a kg - Tk 15 hike in a week.
Pakistani variety of the bird was sold at Tk 280-Tk 300 a kg while local species (deshi) prices shot up to Tk 440-Tk 460 a kg - Tk 40 hike in a week.
Farm egg price increased to Tk 35-Tk 36 a haali (four pieces) from Tk 32-Tk 34 a haali.
State-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data showed chicken prices increased by 10-14 per cent in a week.
Shariful Islam, a chicken meat trader at Rayer Bazar kitchen market, said the demand for chicken increased significantly, resulting in a hike in prices at farm level.
He said the upcoming poll and the new year celebration triggered a rise in demand for both chicken and egg.
He said both city-dwellers and restaurants are buying and hoarding these protein items in large quantities for the two occasions.
He said poultry farms have increased the prices of the birds and eggs considerably in the last two weeks following a rise in the demand.
He said vendors were buying broiler chicken at Tk 12,900-Tk 13,200 per 100 kg from Savar, Dhamrai, Keraniganj, Nowabganj, Tangail and Sirajganj which was Tk 12,400-Tk 12,600 only a week back.
The prices of some varieties of rice also showed an upward trend at wholesale levels in the last couple of days, which was yet to affect the retail markets, according to the city grocers.
On the other hand, the prices of onion and garlic, and the new potato witnessed a further decline last week.
Onion, both imported and local ones, was sold at Tk 28-Tk 32, garlic at Tk 60-Tk 80 and new potato at Tk 30-Tk 40 a kg - Tk 5-Tk 10 plunge in a week.
