Fish, meat, sugar prices soar in Dhaka kitchen markets before Eid

Prices of fish, meat and sugar have gone up inside capital Dhaka on the eve of the Eid-Ul-Fitr.

Meat sellers at Dhaka’s prominent kitchen market Karwan Bazar were found selling broiler chicken at Tk 10-15 more than usual rate on Friday.

The small-sized ones were on sale at Tk 180 per kilo while the bigger ones at Tk 160 per kilo. Large ones weighing around one kilo each were sold at Tk 280 per piece and pairs of golden cock chickens were selling at Tk 280.

The sellers said there was no possibility of a drop in the prices before the festival.

The heightened prices of sugar, which have been making headlines throughout Ramadan, did not relent on Friday and it was selling at Tk 70-72 per kg. It is sold at mill gates at Tk 57 per kg.

Wholesalers and retailers continued their old blame game over the hike which the Consumers Association of Bangladesh or CAB termed a “trick for profiteering”.

CAB Vice-President SM Nazer Hossain emphasised meticulous monitoring over the matter.

Similar hike was reported from beef sellers. Beef was on sale at Tk 470 per kilo throughout Ramadan but on Friday the rate rose to Tk 500 per kilo.

Prices of other essentials which are primarily in demand before Eid such as vermicelli, milk, dried fruits and cinnamon were steady and so were the prices of vegetable and pilaf rice.

Garlic was sold at Tk 150-160 per kilo on Friday, around Tk 20 less than usual rate.

The official three-day holiday for Eid-Ul-Fitr starts from Sunday; however, many have already left Dhaka to add the weekends to their vacation.

Unpacked vermicelli was on sale at Tk 60 per kilo and the packed ones at Tk 100-120. Unpacked pilaf rice was on sale at Tk 90 per kilo while one kilo packet waz available for Tk 100.

A vegetable vendor in Mirpur, Ikram, said transporting fish and vegetables is taking longer than usual prior to Eid and this factor has drove the price.

Rupchanda can be had at Tk 800 per kilo, Ruhi at Tk 240 per kilo, Katal at Tk 350 per kilo, Mrigel at Tk 200 per kilo, big-sized Telapia at Tk 160 per kilo, Pangash at Tk 120 per kilo and a pair of Hilsha (each weighing around 700 gram) at Tk 800-1000 at Karwan Bazar.

Prices of Ruhi and Katal fish had gone up by Tk 30-40, said Prabir Saha, a trader in Mirpur kichen market.