Egg prices drop, but soaring rice, chicken and vegetable costs dampen relief

For over three weeks, the price of rice has remained high across markets, with wholesalers placing blame on mill owners for the continued surge.

Although prices of Sonali and broiler chickens declined last week, they increased again on Friday.

The cost of chicken eggs has fallen slightly, but the price of vegetables remains consistently high, with some varieties becoming even more expensive.

A visit to the capital’s Krishi market, Town Hall market, and the kitchen market near Shia Mosque in Mohammadpur on Friday reflected this ongoing trend.

Prices of rice remained elevated, with certain varieties increasing by Tk 2 to Tk 3 per kg compared with the previous week.

Most rice types continued to sell at higher rates.

Middle-class consumers, who typically prefer Miniket and Nazirshail rice, are facing higher costs for these staples.

Miniket rice, depending on type and quality, was priced between Tk 76 and Tk 85 per kg, up from Tk 76 to Tk 82 last week.

High-quality Miniket was being sold at Tk 80 to Tk 85, compared to Tk 80 to Tk 82 a week earlier.

Miniket, previously Tk 76 to Tk 78, rose to Tk 78 to Tk 80.

Nazirshail rice from the Ishan Royal brand increased from Tk 82 to Tk 84 per kg.

Nazir Tiger brand, which sold at Tk 78.50 last week, rose to Tk 80–82.

The price of Bri-Athash, a coarse rice variety, remained unchanged at Tk 58 per kg.

Basmati rice also held steady at Tk 94 per kg, while Indian fragrant Basmati and Pakistani Basmati continued selling at Tk 420 and Tk 280 per kg, respectively.

Kataribhog Sugandhi was unchanged at Tk 113 per kg.

Swarna coarse rice remained at Tk 55–58, and Bri-28 and Bri-29 varieties held at Tk 60–62 per kg in the retail market.

Md Anisur Rahman, a seller at Bismillah Rice Mill in Town Hall Bazaar, told bdnews24.com: “The price of rice is mostly unchanged from last week, though it has increased by two to three taka in some cases.

“When mill owners raise prices, it affects the retail market. They increase prices suddenly.”

Chicken prices also rose on Friday, with Sonali and broiler chickens increasing by Tk 10 to 20 per kg.

While white and red layer chicken prices remained steady, the price of country chicken dipped slightly.

Sonali chicken was selling for Tk 310 to Tk 320 per kg, up from Tk 290 to Tk 300 last week.

Broiler chicken rose to Tk 170 from last week’s Tk 150 to 160.

Red layer chickens were priced at Tk 310 to Tk 320, slightly higher than last week’s Tk 300 to 310, and white layer chickens rose to Tk 290 to 300 from Tk 280 to 290.

Domestic chickens were selling at Tk 580 to Tk 600 per kg, compared to Tk 580 to Tk 620 the previous week.

Egg prices, in contrast, saw a modest decline.

Farm-raised red eggs were selling for Tk 110 to Tk 115 per dozen, down from Tk 120 to Tk 125.

White eggs fell to Tk 100 per dozen from Tk 120 last week.

Local chicken eggs held steady at Tk 220 per dozen.

Duck eggs were priced at Tk 200 to Tk 210, and quail eggs at Tk 50 per dozen.

Potato prices declined slightly, with round potatoes selling at Tk 25 per kg, down from Tk 30.

Large onions dropped to Tk 60 to Tk 65 from Tk 70, while medium and small onions fell to Tk 50 to Tk 55 from Tk 60.

Thick ginger was being sold at Tk 160 to Tk 170, and thin ginger at Tk 110 to Tk 120 per kg.

Large garlic ranged from Tk 160 to Tk 180, and small garlic was priced at Tk 120 to Tk 130.

NO RESPITE FROM SOARING VEGETABLE PRICES

Prices of vegetables surged again on Friday, as vendors in Dhaka’s local markets demanded higher rates, despite relatively lower prices earlier in the week.

At Mohammadpur’s Shia Mosque kitchen market, bitter gourd was selling for Tk 100 to Tk 120 per kg, up from Tk 90 to Tk 100 last week.

Other vegetables, including okra, were priced between Tk 60 and Tk 80, while snake gourd and ridge gourd were being sold at Tk 60 per kg.

Pointed gourd was also going for Tk 60 to Tk 80, and sponge gourd was priced at Tk 70 per kg.

Spiny gourd held steady at Tk 40, and taro root ranged from Tk 90 to Tk 100.

Moringa was being sold at Tk 100 to Tk 120, while luffa gourd remained unchanged at Tk 60.

Tomatoes reached as high as Tk 160 per kg. Carrots were priced between Tk 50 and Tk 60, radishes at Tk 50, and cucumbers between Tk 50 and Tk 60.

Lemon prices saw a sharp jump. A small handful was selling for Tk 30 to Tk 40, compared to just Tk 10 to Tk 20 last week.

Among leafy greens, red amaranth stayed at Tk 10 per bunch.

Bottle gourd leaf was selling for Tk 40, spinach between Tk 10 and Tk 15, water spinach at Tk 15, malabar spinach at Tk 30 to Tk 40, stem spinach at Tk 10, cheeseweed at Tk 20, and fiddlehead fern at Tk 25 per bunch.

Shahela Khatun, a buyer at the market, expressed her frustration.

“The prices of vegetables are very high. It seems that the prices increase on this day of the week,” she said.

“I bought bitter gourd two weeks ago for Tk 80. Today they are asking for Tk 120. If the prices continue to increase like this, it will be dangerous.”