Market volatility hits Dhaka bazars ahead of Eid; fish, meat, and spices get dearer
Prices of key Eid essentials, especially spices, meat and fish have surged sharply across capital markets, while vegetables remain relatively stable or cheaper amid reduced demand.
With the holy festival of Eid-ul-Fitr approaching, kitchen markets across the capital have witnessed a sharp spike in the prices of essential commodities, particularly spices, meat, and fish.
Visiting various kitchen markets today (20 March) revealed a trend of rising costs for festive essentials, though vegetable prices have notably remained stable or even decreased as traders prepare to leave for their village homes.
The most significant volatility was observed in the market for spices, where prices have jumped by Tk50 to Tk200 per kg within a few days. Cardamom (Elachi) has seen the steepest hike, now retailing at nearly Tk5,000 per kg—an increase of Tk220 to Tk250 from just last week.
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Other spice prices have also climbed. Cinnamon is selling for Tk580–Tk600, mace (Jaitri) at Tk4,000, and nutmeg (Jaiphal) at Tk1,500 per kg. Cloves are priced between Tk1,800 and Tk2,000, while cumin (Jeera) ranges from Tk700 to Tk800 per kg. Dry fruits followed suit, with cashews reaching up to Tk1,800 and pistachios hitting Tk4,000 per kg.
Driven by high festival demand, the price of beef has risen by approximately Tk80 per kg, now retailing at Tk850 per kg. Mutton is being sold at Tk1,350 to Tk1,400 per kg, marking a jump of over Tk100.
In the poultry stable, broiler chicken is priced at Tk210 to Tk220 per kg, while Sonali chicken is selling for Tk350 to Tk360. However, egg prices have seen a slight decline. The fish market remains expensive, with Ruhi selling for Tk350 to Tk400 and Pabda at Tk 450 to Tk500 per kg. Large prawns (Golda Chingri) are retailing for as much as Tk1,200 per kg.
Supply shortages of bottled soybean oil have pushed the price of loose oil to Tk215 to Tk220 per litre. Sugar prices also remain high, with local varieties selling at Tk140 per kg and imported sugar at Tk100 to Tk105. Fragrant rice (Chinigura), another Eid staple, has seen a Tk20 to Tk30 per kg increase, now selling between Tk140 and Tk175 depending on the brand.
In contrast to the soaring prices of meat and spices, vegetable prices provided some relief. Many vendors were seen selling off their stock at lower rates to head home for the holidays.
"I am leaving for my village tonight," said Kamrul, a retailer in the Karwan Bazar kitchen market. "I have a lot of stock left, so I am selling them at a lower price to clear the inventory," he said.
Onions are currently selling for Tk30 to Tk40, potatoes for Tk18 to Tk20, and tomatoes for Tk30 to Tk40 per kg. However, green chillies (Tk80 to Tk100) and lemons Tk60 to Tk80 per Hali (4 pieces) remain relatively expensive. Vermicelli (Semai) prices have remained stable, with 200g packets retailing at Tk40 to Tk45.
