Ahead of Eid, prices of beef, chicken, and fish have seen an upward trend, while prices of rice, edible oil, sugar, wheat, and flour have remained stable at the kitchen market in Dhaka.
Prices of vegetables, onions, and fruits, including local seasonal fruits like watermelon, pineapple, and imported fruits, have slightly decreased due to decreased demand as holidaymakers leave the capital.
During visits to different kitchen markets including Karwan Bazar, Mohakhali, Malibagh, and Hatirpool, our correspondent observed slight increases in the prices of beef, chicken, and fish on Friday (April 5).
Wholesalers and retailers of these items noted that meat and chicken prices increased ahead of Eid due to rising demand, while fish prices rose due to reduced supply in the market.
Abu Bakar, a butcher at Karwan Bazar, informed UNB that beef is selling at Tk750 per kg, and mutton/goat meat at Tk1000 and Tk1100 per kg respectively. He mentioned that government officials from the City Corporation and the Ministry of Commerce had visited the Karwan Bazar kitchen market, leaving no scope for sudden price increases.
Outside Karwan Bazar, beef was selling between Tk750 to 800 per kg on Friday, with a price increase of Tk30 per kg compared to other days of the week. Mutton and goat meat were selling at Tk1000 to 1180 per kg, with an increase of Tk50 per kg.
The price of broiler chicken has also increased, selling at Tk240 to 260 per kg, up from Tk220 last week. Similarly, Sonali chicken is now being sold at Tk350 to 380 per kg.
Traders in the concerned sectors attributed the increase in chicken prices to hikes in chicken feed and broiler chick prices.
Vegetable prices decreased overall on Friday due to reduced demand, but prices of new vegetables like okra, drumsticks, string beans, and bitter gourd remained stable between Tk60 to 140 per kg. Tomato prices increased as the season nears its end, with good quality tomatoes selling between Tk60 to 70 per kg.
Other items such as onion, garlic, and ginger were priced between Tk30 to 60 per kg, Tk180 to 250 per kg, and Tk200 to 280 per kg respectively, based on quality.
Egg prices decreased slightly, with brown eggs selling at Tk130 per dozen, egg duck at Tk70 per hali (four pieces), and eggs from home-rearing hens at Tk80 per hali (four pieces).
Watermelon prices fell drastically, with premium quality watermelon selling at Tk40 per kg. Pineapple was selling at Tk20 to 35 per piece based on size and quality.
Guava was priced at Tk50 to 70 per kg, while papaya (ripe) was priced at Tk100 to 140 per kg, down from Tk200 and above in the first week of Ramadan.
Apple, Malta, orange, and Nashi pear were sold between Tk260 to 340 per kg, compared to Tk360 to 370 per kg in the first two weeks of Ramadan.
Prices of other kitchen items remained unchanged this week.
