Prices of vegetables, fish, chicken and eggs increased last week due to persistent rainfall and flooding in different parts of the country, which disrupted supplies and transportation, traders said.

A visit to Karwan Bazar, Town Hall Kitchen Market and several other markets in the capital on Thursday showed that egg prices have increased by Tk 15 per dozen over the past week.

Eggs, which sold for Tk 120-125 per dozen a week ago, are now being sold at Tk 135-140 per dozen.

Chicken prices have also increased. Broiler chicken is now selling at Tk 190-200 per kg, compared with Tk 165-180 a week earlier. Sonali chicken is being sold at Tk 320-360 per kg, up from Tk290-330.

Summer vegetable prices have also risen. Many vegetables that were selling for Tk 50-60 per kg last week are now priced at Tk 60-80 per kg.

Brinjal prices hit Tk 100-140 a kg, bitter gourd Tk 80-100, clocasia stem Tk 90-110 a kg, imported tomato Tk 250-300 a kg---marking Tk 20-30 a kg further hike.

Green chilli prices have surged sharply, rising from Tk 100-120 per kg to Tk 160-200 per kg, depending on quality.

Md Raisul, an egg trader at Karwan Bazar, said higher wholesale prices had pushed up retail prices, forcing sellers to charge Tk 10-15 more per dozen than a week earlier.=

The fish market has also witnessed a notable price hike---by Tk 20-100 a kg.

Cultured pangas is selling at Tk 220-260 per kg, medium and large tilapia at Tk 220-300, and ruhi, katla at 400-500 per kg, koi for Tk 220-300, and pabda for Tk 450-550 per kg depending on size.

Riverine Tengra is selling for Tk 650-800 per kg, vetki for Tk 450-550 and shrimp Tk 850-1650 a kg.

Sirajul Islam, a Karwan Bazar-based trader, said prices increased due mainly to reduced arrivals from flood-affected districts and disruptions to transport networks caused by continuous rainfall.

He said prices of eggs, chicken and vegetables could ease once the flood situation improves and supplies from different regions return to normal.

According to the disaster management ministry, 43 districts have been hit by flood in the country in last two weeks while standing crops on 0.15 million hectares of land have been damaged.

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