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The price of broiler chicken has continued to soar only to batter limited-income people who are the key consumers of this protein item.
Broiler hits Tk 240-250 a kilogram, marking another hike by Tk 10 a kg.
It has posted a total hike of Tk 100 in price a kg in the past one month, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
Pakistani and Sonali fowl prices have further increased by Tk 20 a kg as retailed at Tk 350-370.
Indigenous chicken, however, remained static at Tk 580-600 a kg, according to kitchen market sources.
Md Alamin, a chicken vendor along Sher-e-Bangla Road of Mohammadpur in Dhaka city, said prices have also been increasing at farm level for a month.
Broiler chicken price has increased to Tk 20,200 from Tk 12,000-13,000 per quintal (100 kg) at farms in Dhamrai, Nawabganj, Savar, Tangail, Sirajganj and other hubs countrywide during the period, he added.
"We have no idea about the possible price of chicken during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan starting in the last week of March," said Mr Alamin.
Jahurul Hoque, a poultry farmer at Rajashon in Savar, said production has dropped by 30-40 per cent in the last one month as farmers are producing lesser following the spread of disease and higher feed prices.
He further said that half of poultry farms have still remained closed since 2020 and 2021 following the Covid-induced lockdown.
According to Mr Hoque, production costs have also increased to more than Tk 190 a kg amid a surge in input costs.
Meanwhile, Consumers Association of Bangladesh vice-president SM Nazer Hossain said farm egg, broiler chicken and cultured fish are key protein sources for millions of poor people in the country.
He said these poor families are cutting intake of these protein-rich foods following their rising prices to adjust with their limited income.
Mr Hossain put emphasis on stricter vigilance to prevent any artificial hike during this tough time.
"Prices of poultry inputs should be minimised to keep poultry items within the reach of commoners," he said.
However, cultured fish and chickpea have registered a further hike in a week.
Cultured ruhi, katla, tilapia, pangas and koi witnessed Tk 20-30 a kg further hike in a week.
Chickpea's retail price soared by Tk 5.0-10 a kg further to Tk 95-125 depending on quality.
Most of other essential prices showed a static trend maintaining their previous highs, according to city kitchen markets and groceries.