Prices of chicken, egg, onion and vegetables have increased further this week, adding to the woes of consumers already battered by high prices of essentials.
The prices of broiler chicken went up to Tk 160-165 a kg and four eggs to Tk 38-Tk 40, registering a hike of 12 per cent and 15 per cent respectively in a week.
Local variety of onion were selling at Tk 60-Tk 65 a kg while the imported variety at Tk40-Tk48 at the retail market in the city on Thursday.
It witnessed a price hike of 22-24 per cent in the last two weeks, according to the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
Traders attributed the price surge to rains while market experts said the lack of market monitoring by the government led to the hike.
Prices of local chicken and Pakistani variety of chicken have also increased in the past seven days.
Local chicken sold at Tk 430-Tk 450 per kg and the Pakistani variety at Tk 280-Tk 320 on Thursday, an increase of Tk 30-Tk 40 in a week.
The prices of layer chicken also rose to Tk 185-Tk 190 from Tk 170-Tk175 a kg.
Meanwhile, egg prices witnessed a significant hike in the last few days.
Farm eggs, considered as a key protein source for the poor, were selling at Tk38-Tk40 per four pieces at the groceries.
Eggs of Pakistani chickens and ducks were selling at Tk50-Tk58 per four pieces, showing a hike of 12 per cent.
Md Rashed Raza, a poultry retailer at Rayer Bazar Kitchen Market in the city, told the FE that farmers have raised the prices.
"I have bought 100 broiler chicken at Tk152 per kg from Savar, which was Tk140-142 per kg a week back," he said.
Abdul Bari (Sujon), a poultry farm owner at Bangalipur, Dhamrai, said the production of poultry farms usually declines during winter and rainy seasons.
"Besides, hundreds of poultry farms were shut down by their owners due to much lower prices of poultry products until June, which also contributed to the price hike," he said.
Also, onion prices have been increasing in the city market for last few days.
Prices of the major spice item went up by Tk 650 to Tk 700 per 100 kg sack in the last 15 days at the wholesale market, according to traders at Shyambazar Market in the city.
President of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Golam Rahman told the FE that a sudden hike in onion prices is 'artificial'.
He said many traders are now stockpiling onion, targeting to make windfall profits ahead of Eid-ul-Azha festival.
The present stock of onion was imported in May-June when the price was 5.0 rupees to 11 rupees (Tk 6.0 to Tk 13.4) a kg at Lasalgaon in India, the biggest onion hub in the world, he said.
He alleged that the government had failed to keep the prices of essentials within the buying capacity of the poor due to the absence of market monitoring.
He pointed out that there should not be any scarcity of local onion until December, but the traders raised the price by more than 25 per cent on the excuse that the price has surged in India.
Prices of vegetables have also increased by Tk5-Tk15 a kg in a week.
Local bean was the costliest vegetable, selling at Tk 150 a kg on Thursday.
Prices of all kinds of leafy vegetables also soared by Tk5.0 to Tk8.0 a bunch.
Chili price continued to sell at a high price -- Tk120 -Tk 180 a kg depending on quality.
Ginger, both of local and imported varieties, witnessed a hike of Tk20 - Tk25 in a week.
