Prices of all kinds of meats have increased ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The biggest hike has been in the prices of chicken with broiler chick prices jumping by Tk40 per kg and Sonali chicken prices jumping by Tk30 in one week.
Meanwhile, the price of beef has increased by Tk30-50 per kg. Mutton is being sold for Tk1,000 kg.
However, the price of vermicelli, sugar and polao rice has not jumped compared to last week.
Traders say that the demand for chicken has increased on the occasion of Eid, but the supply is less.
On 15 March, the Agriculture Marketing Department fixed the price of broiler chicken at Tk175 per kg, Sonali chicken at Tk262 and beef at Tk664 per kg.
But these are not being sold anywhere at the stipulated prices.
Visiting the Tejgaon Colony Bazar, Mohakhali and Karwan Bazar kitchen markets on the last Friday (5 April) before Eid, broiler chicken could be seen being sold at Tk240-250 kg and Sonali chicken at Tk350-360.
The week before that, broiler chickens were being sold at Tk200-210 and Sonali chicken at Tk320-330 per kg.
However, in the last two weeks, the price of eggs has decreased by Tk 10-15 per dozen.
Amjad Hossain, a salesperson at Ma Ayesha Broiler House in Karwan Bazar, said, "The demand for broiler chickens increases during Eid. But the supply in the market is low for a few days. Farmers have also increased prices. That's why the price has also increased in retail shops.”
Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA), an organisation of marginal farmers, has alleged that corporate groups are behind the increase in the price of chicken.
The president of the organisation, Suman Howladar, said, "Marginal farmers are not able to buy chickens because the corporate groups are creating an artificial crisis. So they are forced to withdraw from production. Most of the chickens in the market now are from corporate groups. They are also controlling the market.”
He said it costs Tk28-30 to produce a chick. But the marginal farmers have to buy those for Tk80-90.
Meanwhile, broiler chicken feed costs Tk50-55 per kg to produce, but farmers have to buy that feed at the rate of Tk70-75 per kg.
