Relentless rain pushes up prices of vegetables, eggs, rice and fish

Continuous rain and adverse weather have triggered another round of price hikes in Dhaka's kitchen markets, with vegetables, fish, poultry, eggs, and rice all becoming costlier over the past week, adding to the burden on low- and middle-income families.

A visit to Karwan Bazar, New Market, and Hatirpool markets yesterday found that almost all essential food items were selling at higher prices than a week earlier.

Abdul Kader, a private-sector employee shopping at New Market, expressed frustration, saying, "Whenever it rains, prices of everything go up. But after the rain stops, they never come down. Now I have to spend much more just to buy a few essentials."

Traders blamed persistent rainfall and waterlogging across the country for disrupting the collection of produce and transport to Dhaka, reducing supplies and pushing up retail prices.

Green chili prices saw the steepest increase. After selling for Tk80-140 per kg last week, it is now priced at Tk150-200 per kg.

Egg prices also increased again. Farm-produced white eggs were selling for Tk125 per dozen and brown eggs for Tk135, around Tk10 higher than a week ago.

Shahin Mia, an egg trader at New Market, said, "We are paying higher prices to buy eggs from farms, so we have no choice but to charge more in the retail market."

Rice prices also continued to edge up. Fine varieties, including Nazirshail and Miniket, were selling for Tk72-85 per kg, while coarse rice was priced at Tk50-60. Both categories were around Tk2 cheaper per kg a week ago.

Mizanur Rahman, a rice trader at Karwan Bazar, said, "Rice mill prices have been fluctuating for the past few weeks. As wholesale prices increase, the impact is inevitably passed on to the retail market."

Among vegetables, ordinary-quality brinjal was selling for Tk80-100 per kg, up from Tk60-80 a week ago. Bitter gourd was priced at Tk80-100, ridge gourd Tk60-70, teasel gourd Tk70-80, okra and snake gourd Tk50-60, taro stolons Tk70-90, and yardlong beans Tk70-90 per kg. Depending on quality, cucumber prices climbed to Tk80-120 per kg.

Some vegetables, however, remained relatively stable. Sweet pumpkin was selling for Tk30-40 per kg, pointed gourd for Tk50-60, green papaya for Tk30-50, bottle gourd for Tk50-80 apiece, and ash gourd for Tk50-70 each.

Rafiqul Islam, a vegetable trader at New Market, said several days of continuous rain had damaged crops in many fields, while waterlogging in different areas delayed shipments to Dhaka. "If supplies do not return to normal soon, prices may rise further," he warned.

The upward trend has also spread to the fish market. Large-sized rohu was selling for Tk450-550 per kg, medium rohu for Tk400-480, catla for Tk340-480, tilapia for Tk200-260, pabda for Tk320-450, tengra for Tk600-800, pangas for Tk180-350, farmed koi for Tk200-280 and shrimp for Tk800-1,200 per kg.

Hilsa prices also remained high. Hilsa weighing 800-900 grams was selling for Tk2,000-2,200 per kg, while one-kilogram fish fetched Tk2,300-2,400 per kg.

In the poultry market, broiler chicken was selling for Tk180-190 per kg, Sonali chicken for Tk330 and indigenous chicken for Tk650-750. Beef was priced at Tk750-800 per kg and mutton at Tk1,100-1,200.

Shahin Mia, an egg trader at New Market, said, "We are paying higher prices to buy eggs from farms, so we have no choice but to charge more in the retail market."

Rice prices also continued to edge up. Fine varieties, including Nazirshail and Miniket, were selling for Tk72-85 per kg, while coarse rice was priced at Tk50-60. Both categories were around Tk2 cheaper per kg a week ago.