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Prices of chicken increased further on Monday, with broiler selling at Tk 230-240 per kg. The prices rose by about Tk 20 per kg in a day and Tk 40-50 in a week.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the broiler chicken prices are now at the highest level in the last one year.
Apart from broiler chicken, prices of Sonali, Pakistani, and indigenous varieties also increased. Sonali chicken prices rose by Tk 30, and were selling at Tk 350-360 per kg on Monday, while indigenous chicken was priced at Tk 680-750 per kg.
Belal Uddin, a vendor at Mohammadpur Krishi Market in the city, said the households, planning to stay in the city during the Eid festival, increased their purchases. At the same time, chicken prices increased at the farm level due to lower production.
He also said the prices of broiler chicken increased by Tk 1,500-2,000 per 100 kg in the past seven days, while the supply of Sonali chicken also declined.
Meanwhile, despite the government's assurance, the supply of bottled soybean oil remained low in the market, grocers said.
Only about one in ten shops had one- or two-litre bottles, and they were charging Tk 3.0-5.0 more than the government-fixed price of Tk 195 per litre.
Kamal Ahmed, a grocer on Sher-e-Bangla Road in Mohammadpur, said the supply of bottled soybean oil has been declining for the past one and a half weeks.
"I ordered 300 one-litre bottles and 200 two-litre bottles from a distributor at Rayerbazar one month ago. However, the distributor has not delivered the order, and his stock ran out on Saturday," he added.
Another grocer at West Dhanmondi said he was selling soybean oil at Tk 198-200 per litre, as he had bought it from distributors at Tk 195-196 per litre.
Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir on Monday said there is enough stock of edible oil in the market, and there is no chance of any price increase.
The minister held a meeting with edible oil traders at the ministry to review the supply situation. It was held after some media reports mentioned shortages of edible oil and sales at prices Tk 2.0 higher per litre in some places.
He later briefed journalists about its outcome, and said the recent shortage happened, as many people started buying extra oil out of panic. This created temporary pressure on supply in some areas.
According to information from importers and refinery owners discussed in the meeting, there is adequate stock of edible oil in the market now.
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