Consumers squeezed as egg, vegetable prices keep rising
The spice market has remained mostly stable, but ginger prices have been volatile
Highlights
- Fish and meat prices largely unchanged
- Rice, lentils and edible oil remain stable
- Brinjal sells up to Tk200 per kg
- Green chilli eases but still at Tk200-250
- Heavy rain damages vegetables, supply shortage push price
Prices of eggs and vegetables have continued to rise in Dhaka markets, putting added pressure on households already struggling with daily expenses.
While the cost of fish, meat, and other essentials has remained mostly stable, vegetables are selling at higher rates and eggs have become more expensive over the past two weeks.
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Shoppers in New Market, Lalbagh and Hatirpool reported that most vegetables are now selling above Tk80 per kg.
Round brinjal is priced at Tk160-200 per kg, medium-sized brinjal at Tk120, and long brinjal at Tk80-100.
Bitter gourd is selling at Tk100, bottle gourd at Tk70, pumpkin at Tk50, and pointed gourd, carrot and okra at Tk80 each. Snake gourd and sponge gourd have fallen to Tk80 per kg.
Green chilli, which sold for Tk260-300 earlier, is now available at Tk200-250.
Some items, however, have shown stability or slight declines.
Potatoes are selling at Tk25 per kg, and cucumber prices have dropped to Tk60-80.
Green leafy vegetables, including red spinach, water spinach and stem amaranth, remain stable at Tk20-30 per bunch.
Rahat, a vegetable trader at Hatirpool, said heavy rain has damaged crops in several areas, causing supply shortages.
"There is a shortage of supplies in the market and heavy rain has damaged vegetables in many areas, which has pushed prices higher," he said.
The egg market has remained tense, with red eggs unchanged at Tk150 per dozen and Tk50 per hali.
"No one cares about us. With wives and children at home, it has become very difficult to run the family as prices keep rising," said Sharif Mia, a customer at New Market.
Fish and meat prices have remained largely unchanged.
Pangas price has dropped slightly to Tk190-200 per kg from Tk200-220, while Rui is steady at Tk300-350 and Katla at Tk400-450. Koi fish has fallen from Tk250 to Tk230-240 per kg.
Beef remains at Tk750 per kg and mutton at Tk1100. Broiler chicken is still selling at Tk170-180, Pakistani chicken at Tk300-330 and Sonali chicken at unchanged rates.
The spice market has shown little change apart from ginger. Chinese ginger has increased from Tk160 to Tk180-190 per kg, while locally grown ginger is selling at Tk150-160.
Prices of garlic, onion, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, clove and ground spices remain stable.
Lentils, edible oil and rice have also stayed stable. Local lentils are priced at Tk145 per kg, Indian lentils at Tk100, mung beans at Tk150-160 and khesari pulse at Tk110-112.
Miniket rice is selling at Tk78-80, polao rice at Tk115-120 and 28 and paijam varieties at Tk65. Soybean oil is available at Tk125-180 and super oil at Tk170.
