Though Eid has come and gone, many essentials remain pegged at peak Ramadan prices.
Despite the traditional dip in demand after the festival, items such as aubergines, cucumbers, lemons, and poultry continue to fetch elevated rates across markets in the capital.
Retail prices of broiler chicken have climbed by Tk20 to 30 per kilogramme in the past month.
Broiler is now selling at Tk210 per kg, while the premium Sonali variety has surged to Tk320 per kg.
Fine rice has also seen a Tk5 per kg hike. Despite softened demand, aubergines and cucumbers are still trading well above Tk100 per kg.
Cauliflower prices have doubled to Tk80 apiece, with other vegetables showing increases of Tk10 to 20 per kg.
Conversely, prices of essentials like potatoes, onions, eggs, sugar, flour, and bottled soybean oil have remained stable.
These figures emerged from a survey of several markets across Dhaka on Thursday, based on conversations with both buyers and sellers.
At Hatirpool market, poultry vendor Abul Bashar of Sabuj Poultry Farm said, “There’s little we can do. We sell at the prices we purchase. At the start of Ramadan, demand was high but even then, broiler was Tk175–180, Sonali Tk270–280, and local chicken Tk600–650 per kg. Now, just a month later, prices are up again.”
At Town Hall market, Rana Masud of Gazipur Broiler House echoed the trend.
“Prices have gone up,” he said. “Broiler now sells for Tk200, Sonali for Tk300. Beef is Tk750–800 per kg, while mutton has hit Tk1,100–1,200 per kg.”
Egg prices, however, have offered a touch of relief, holding steady at Tk120–125 per dozen.
Fish prices also remain mostly unchanged: Rui and Katla fetch Tk300–450 per kg, Pabda Tk400, prawns Tk800–1,000, and Pangas Tk180–220 per kg.
Aubergines, cucumbers and lemons soared during Ramadan and show little sign of retreat. Though prices eased slightly after Eid, they have not reverted to pre-Ramadan levels.
Hatirpool’s vegetable seller Tajul Islam and Town Hall’s Ibrahim Sheikh both report persistently high prices across the board.
Long aubergines are going for Tk100–120 per kg, green aubergines Tk70–80, hybrid cucumbers Tk60–80, and local cucumbers Tk80–100. Large lemons are Tk80–100 per four-piece bundle, smaller ones Tk40–60.
Green chillies are at Tk80–100 per kg. Cauliflower has doubled in price, now Tk80–100 per head.
Cabbage sells for Tk50–60, bitter gourd Tk80–100, pointed gourd and okra Tk70–80, papaya Tk50–60, and tomatoes Tk50–60 per kg.
Retailers report potatoes at Tk20–25 per kg, onions Tk40–50, local ginger Tk130, imported ginger Tk220, local garlic Tk120, and imported garlic Tk240 per kg.
Even with reduced consumption during Ramadan, rice prices have not dropped.
In fact, fine rice has risen by Tk4–5 per kg over the past month.
Quality brands like Mozammel are now selling for Tk96 per kg, up from Tk90.
Other brands like Rashid and Sagar are going for Tk75–90, Atash rice Tk60–65, and coarse rice Tk52–55 per kg.
Bottled soybean oil remains at Tk175 per litre.
A two-kg pack of flour is Tk120.
Chickpeas are selling at Tk105 per kg, and lentils at Tk120–135.
Despite ample imports during Ramadan, the price of dates has remained stubbornly high and shows no signs of abating even post-Eid.
