Despite recent onion imports from India, prices have increased by 15-20 taka per kilogramme over the week, reaching 140 taka.
Egg prices have reduced slightly to 145-150 taka per dozen in markets, yet the government-specified price of 142 taka remains elusive.
Compared to last week, the cost of vegetables, including beans, has decreased by 10-40 taka. However, prices for rice, fish, and meat remain high.
These findings emerged from conversations with buyers and sellers on Thursday (24 October) at various markets across Dhaka, including Mohammadpur’s Town Hall Market, Karwan Bazar, and Hatirpool.
Last week, onions were sold at 110-120 taka per kilogramme but have since risen to 130-140 taka.
Retailers like Oli Ahmed at Town Hall Market attribute this increase to the end of the domestic onion season and lower import volumes from India, which has led to elevated wholesale prices.
Meanwhile, potatoes continue to sell at 55-60 taka, garlic at 200-240 taka, and ginger at 280-310 taka per kilogramme.
Eggplant prices, however, have decreased by 40 taka per kilogramme. Other staples such as chickpeas remain at 140-160 taka, moong dal at 180 taka, and masoor dal at 110-135 taka.
Wheat flour packets of 2 kilogrammes are priced at 100-130 taka, with loose flour selling at 40 taka per kilogramme. Soybean oil remains at 165-167 taka per litre and 800-810 taka for 5 litres, while sugar costs 130-135 taka per kilogramme.
Thanks to several initiatives, egg prices have dropped slightly to 145-150 taka per dozen in various markets, but the government-mandated price of 142 taka remains unmet.
Producers are reportedly supplying 1 million eggs per day to wholesale markets such as Kaptan Bazar and Tejgaon at the set price, allowing wholesale and retail sellers to offer slight reductions.
Mohsin Ali, an egg vendor at Hatirpool Market, confirmed the price drop to 150 taka per dozen, noting that his purchase price, after transport costs, falls between 139-142 taka per dozen.
Meanwhile, Town Hall Market’s Sohel Rana sells eggs at 145 taka per dozen, but in some neighbourhoods, prices still hover around 160 taka.
The previous week’s increase of 20-40 taka per kilogramme for vegetables has reversed, with eggplant now priced at 120-160 taka per kilogramme.
Ridge gourd remains at 90-100 taka, while other vegetables have also seen reductions. Vendors at various markets report the following prices: taro at 70-80 taka, pointed gourd at 50-70 taka, sponge gourd at 70-80 taka, okra at 80-100 taka, papaya at 40-50 taka, and cucumber at 50-70 taka per kilogramme.
String beans and taro stems remain at 100-120 taka, while carrots are priced at 160-180 taka, beans at 160-200 taka, and tomatoes at 180-200 taka per kilogramme. Green chillies cost 80-320 taka per kilogramme.
Cauliflower sells for 60-70 taka each, while bottle gourd and pumpkin are priced at 60-80 taka per piece. Malabar spinach now sells for 40 taka per bunch, and red, spinach, and jute leaves for 30 taka and 20 taka per bunch, respectively.
Despite recent price caps set by the government, broiler and Sonali chicken prices have not reflected this reduction, with broiler chicken selling at 200 taka and Sonali chicken at 300-320 taka per kilogramme against the government’s set price of 180 taka and 270 taka, respectively.
Retailers attribute these high prices to elevated costs from farms. Khalil of the Sonali Broiler House at Town Hall Market noted that, similar to egg production, if producers directly supplied them with chickens, they could adhere to the government-mandated prices.
Beef vendors report that prices remain at 750-780 taka per kilogramme, while mutton continues to sell for 1,050-1,100 taka.
With a shortage of hilsa fish in the market, other fish varieties have retained high prices.
Retailers report increased costs from wholesalers, preventing price reductions for consumers.
Prices observed in the market include rui and katla fish at 350-600 taka per kilogramme, prawns at 600-1,200 taka, kajoli fish at 1,000-1,200 taka, mola at 500 taka, tangra fish at 500-800 taka, and tilapia and pangas at 200-250 taka per kilogramme.
Following the interim government’s assumption of office, rice prices rose by 3-5 taka per kilogramme due to supply disruptions.
Even after two months, rice prices remain elevated, with an additional increase of 2-4 taka per kilogramme over the past week, reportedly due to the end of the harvesting season. Miniket rice sells for 72-76 taka per kilogramme, atash rice for 60-62 taka, and coarse rice for 52-55 taka.
Loose chinigura rice is priced at 130-140 taka per kilogramme, while packaged varieties sell for 170-180 taka per kilogramme.
