No post-Eid relief as meat prices remain high, vegetables edge up
Traders said beef prices have increased due to higher demand across the country during Eid. Prices are not falling yet as supply from rural areas has not returned to normal
Highlights
- Poultry, beef, mutton prices remain high
- Eggplant, cucumber, tomato prices rise
- Traders blame supply shortages during Eid holidays for higher prices
- Egg prices fall, onions remain stable
- Fish market remain unchanged
Despite Eid-ul-Fitr being over, prices of key essentials have yet to stabilise, with meat and poultry remaining expensive and some vegetables becoming costlier due to limited supply.
A visit to retail markets, including New Market and Lalbagh in the capital today (27 March), showed broiler chicken selling at Tk200-210 per kg, Sonali at Tk360-380, layer chicken at Tk320, and Pakistani chicken at Tk390 per kg.
Beef and mutton continue to be sold at elevated prices. Beef is priced at Tk820-850 per kg, remaining at the higher level seen before Eid.
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Shariful, a customer in Lalbagh, told The Business Standard he had expected prices to fall after Eid, but that has not happened. "Meat and chicken are still very expensive. I have guests at home, so I have to buy them," he said.
Traders said beef prices rose due to increased demand during Eid and have yet to decline as supply from rural areas has not fully normalised.
Sentu, a meat seller in Lalbagh, said prices may persist for a few more days. "With Eid-ul-Azha ahead, if cattle prices do not fall, meat prices are also unlikely to decrease," he added.
Mutton is selling at Tk1,200 per kg, Tk50-100 higher than a few weeks before Eid.
The egg market has seen some relief, with farm eggs selling at Tk105-110 per dozen, down from Tk115-120 before Eid.
Onion prices remain stable at Tk35-40 per kg.
Prices of several vegetables have increased, while others remain unchanged. Eggplant, which sold for Tk60-70 per kg before Eid, is now priced at Tk70-80 depending on quality.
Cucumbers have risen from Tk40-50 to Tk50-60 per kg, while tomatoes now sell at Tk50-60, up from Tk35-50.
Green chillies are selling at Tk50 per kg, beans at Tk45-60, small sweet pumpkins at Tk50-60 each, carrots at Tk40-50, okra at Tk80-00, and sponge gourd, ridge gourd and snake gourd at Tk70-80 per kg.
Traders said prices increased due to reduced supply during the Eid holidays and higher transport costs, expressing hope that rates will fall once supply normalises.
Fish supply has declined slightly after Eid, but prices remain largely unchanged due to limited demand.
Rui is selling at Tk350-420 per kg, katla at Tk320-380, tilapia at Tk200-280, pangas at Tk180-250, and shing at Tk400 per kg. Farmed and local koi are priced between Tk300 and Tk600 per kg.
Among other varieties, small shrimp are selling at Tk300-350 per kg, kachki at Tk450-500, mola at Tk300-350, pabda at Tk300-600, and giant freshwater prawn at Tk650-750 per kg.
Despite steady demand, spice prices remain mostly stable.
