Prices of fish, meat and aromatic rice have increased ahead of Eid-ul Fitr, adding to the woes of the consumers.
Chicken, hilsa, rui, katla, garlic, ginger and some vegetables have witnessed a 5.0-10 per cent hike in prices in the last seven days.
Broiler chicken edged up to Tk 155-165 a kg from Tk 150-155 while layer chicken was selling at Tk 185-195 a kg, up from Tk175-180.
Local chicken was selling at Tk 450-480 a kg this week-an increase of Tk 30.
Beef and mutton prices, however, remained stable, maintaining their previous high. Beef was selling at Tk 500-550 a kg and mutton at Tk 780-800 a kg.
The demand for chicken has increased in the city for Eid, said Belal Hossain, a chicken trader at Jhigatala Old Kitchen Market.
The city dwellers who will celebrate Eid in Dhaka are now stocking up on chicken as kitchen markets usually remain shut during Eid holidays, he said.
Prices of hilsa, riverine rui and katla have increased by Tk 100-150 a kg or a piece.
A medium-sized hilsa was selling at Tk 650-800 a piece on Thursday, up from Tk 550-700 a few days ago.
Indigenous rui was selling at Tk 400-650 a kg depending on its size and katla at Tk 350-550 a kg -- an increase of Tk 100 over the last seven days.
Mortuza Khan Montu, president of Bangladesh Fish Traders Association, said the supply of fish to Dhaka has declined to some extent in the last few days.
Many traders are now supplying fish to district towns in a large volume amid rising demand there, as most people will observe Eid in their villages and hometowns, he said.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) president Golam Rahman said such price manipulation is taking place due to the absence of proper market monitoring.
In the absence of any effective monitoring system and vigilance, unscrupulous traders increase the prices of essentials ahead of festivals, he said.
Harsher punishment is needed for the wrongdoers to keep market prices stable during festive occasions, he added.
Prices of aromatic rice such as kalijeera and chinigura increased by Tk 10- 15 a kg in the last week.
Traders attributed the hike to the growing demand in this festive season.
The two varieties of rice were selling at Tk 105-115 (loose) a kg and Tk 110-120 a kg (branded).
Among vegetables, brinjal, cucumber and tomato saw a price hike of Tk 10 per kg.
Ginger prices went up to Tk 100-140 and imported garlic to Tk 80-120 -- an increase of Tk 20 over a week.
