Meat prices surge amid high demand, Eid essentials stable

Highlights:

• Broiler Chicken selling at Tk220/kg
• Chicken (Sonali) selling at Tk320-330/kg
• Beef selling at Tk800-820/kg
• Prices of Eid essentials stable

The prices of broiler chicken and beef have surged in the capital due to heightened demand ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, expected to be celebrated tomorrow.

Over the past week, broiler chicken prices in Dhaka climbed by Tk20-Tk25 per kilogram, reaching Tk220, a visit to Dhaka's kitchen markets today (30 March) revealed.

Chicken (Sonali) now sells for Tk320-Tk330, up from Tk290-Tk300.

Beef prices have similarly risen by Tk20-Tk40 per kilogram, with rates ranging from Tk780 in Karwan Bazar to Tk800-Tk820 in Kalyanpur.

Market vendors cited increased demand coupled with limited supply as the primary reasons for the price hikes. 

Aman Ullah, a poultry vendor at Karwan Bazar, noted that demand has outpaced supply, driving up prices. 

"Broiler chicken is now Tk220 per kg, whereas last week, it was Tk190-200 per kg. Sonali chicken was Tk280 per kg, but today I sold it at Tk320 per kg," he said.

Nasir Khan, a customer who bought three chickens weighing 5 kg each at Tk220 per kg, expressed frustration over what he described as market syndication. 

He claimed sellers were exploiting the supply shortage to hike prices. Despite travelling from Rampura to Karwan Bazar in search of better rates, he found no significant price difference.

After visiting approximately 20 chicken shops in Karwan Bazar, this reporter observed that nearly half had run out of stock. The remaining shops were only selling broiler chickens.

Mohammad Masud, another chicken seller, reported selling out his stock of 180 Sonali chickens at Tk320 per kilogram.

Beef prices see a sharp rise

Beef prices have also increased significantly. In Kalyanpur, beef was selling for Tk800-820 per kg, while in Karwan Bazar, the price stood at Tk780 per kg. A week ago, beef was available for Tk750-780 per kg.

Mohammad Ikhlas, a beef vendor at Karwan Bazar, said, "Everyone in Karwan Bazar is selling beef at Tk780 per kilogram. The increased demand has led to a Tk30 per kilogram increase," he said.

Shemai at a shop in a kitchen market in Dhaka on 30 March. Photo: Jahir Rayhan/TBS

Eid-related grocery sales rise, prices remain stable

Sales of essential Eid items, including shemai (vermicelli), sugar, and perfumed rice, have also increased in recent days. 

However, traders reported that prices have remained stable due to adequate supply. Unlike previous years, the price of shemai and sugar has not increased significantly this Eid. 

A 200-gram packet of thin shemai is being sold for Tk45-50, while loose thin shemai costs Tk120-140 per kg. A 200-gram packet of laccha shemai is priced at Tk50.

A grocery vendor in Kalyanpur pointed out that the ongoing nine-day Eid holiday has resulted in a lower number of residents remaining in the capital. 

"Many people have travelled to their hometowns for the long holiday, leading to fewer buyers of shemai and sugar this year. Those who left Dhaka will purchase laccha shemai in their villages, which has affected our sales," he said.

Ali Hossain, a sales assistant at Yasin General Store in Karwan Bazar, told TBS, "Eid is at the end of the month, and many workers have not yet received their March salaries. With the money they had, they prioritised buying clothes instead. As a result, sales of shemai, sugar, and aromatic rice have dropped by 30% compared to last year. Additionally, many people have left for their villages on vacation, further impacting sales."

The demand for Eid-related food items has also driven up vegetable prices. Lemons are now being sold at Tk60 each, hybrid cucumbers are selling for Tk80-100 per kg, while local cucumbers are priced at Tk120 per kg.

Jihad, a vendor at Karwan Bazar, said cucumbers are selling for Tk80-100 per kg, tomatoes for Tk60 per kg, and green chilies for Tk60 per kg. 

"Due to rising demand, tomato prices have increased to Tk30 per kg in just one week," he added.