Eggs on the boil as food inflation bites

In line with recent hikes in the prices of vegetables, fish, and meat, the prices of eggs have also jumped once more, rising by Tk 10-15 per the dozen.

Although there has been no word of a shortage or supply crisis in the vegetable market, only okra and tomatoes are available for less than Th 60 per kg. The prices of bitter gourd, beans, and other vegetables have also gone up in the past week.

Ahmed Abdur Razzak, who shops for groceries at the Segunbagicha Wet Market, says that vegetables are typically less expensive around this time of year.

“But now the prices of every vegetable are high. If prices do not come down, people will start buying less,” he said.

Even if supply issues are resolved after price hikes, the prices never return to their previous level, he said.

“When Tk 50 vegetables go up to Tk 70 that’s a Tk 20 jump. But when prices ease, they come down by Tk 5-10. They never hit Tk 50 again.”

In order to resolve the fuel crisis triggered by the impact of the Iran war, Bangladesh raised the prices o diesel, petrol, and octane on Saturday.

Although Dhaka traders have blamed the hike in transport costs for inflation, vegetable prices had been trending up before fuel got more expensive.

However, Razzak believes that rising prices aren’t just a result of the fuel crisis but is also due to collusion.

The government should act to restore market stability, he said.

“At such prices, many people will be unable to afford vegetables as much as they used to. The government needs to conduct research on how to reduce the amount of collusion.”

Noor Alam, a vendor at the Segunbagicha Wet Market, told bdnews24.com: “Vegetable sales increase when prices fall. When prices rise, people say they won’t buy. Those who buy, do so at a reduced price.”

On Friday, the prices of some vegetables, including bitter gourd and beans, were higher than last week at the Segunbagicha and Mohakhali wet markets.

The prices of bitter gourd rose by Tk 10 to Tk 70 per kg at both markets, while beans rose by Tk 20 to Tk 100 per kg.

However, a kilogram of green chillies remained at Tk 80, the same as last week.

Pointed gourd (Potol) was selling in Mohakhali at Tk 80 per kg, local cucumbers were going for Tk 80, hybrid cucumber Tk 70, green beans at Tk 80, and green papaya at Tk 50-60. Different varieties of aubergine were selling for Tk 90 to 100 per kg.

Only lentils were cheaper than last week, coming down to Tk 45-50 per kg from Tk 60.

Like last week, a kilogram of luffa (Jhinga) is available at Tk 80, sponge gourd (Dhundal) is also available at Tk 70, while bottle gourd (Lau) was available from Tk 50-60.

The price of fish varied between the two markets.

A kilogram of carplet (Mola) fish in Jatrabari was selling for Tk 200, but in Mohakhali market it was going for Tk 360. Last week, the price was Tk 250 in both markets.

Abdullah, a trader at Mohakhali Wet Market, said he was selling Ruhi fish for Tk 350-450 per kilogram, depending on the size. He said that it was selling for Tk 350-420 last week.

He was also selling tilapia at Tk 120, bata fish at Tk 250-300, domestic puntius (Puti) at Tk 360 to 400 and olive barb (Swarputi) at Tk 250, the same as last week.

Apart from this, Pangas catfish was selling for Tk 220 per kg, while Shing catfish went up by Tk 50 per kg to Tk 500.

Broiler chicken was selling for Tk 180 per kg in Segunbagicha, seller Abdul Alim said. Meanwhile golden chicken cocks were selling for Tk 360 per kg.

Last week, broiler chicken was Tk 160 per kg and golden chicken Tk 380-400 taka per kg.

The price of beef, which rose to Tk 800 per kg since Ramadan, was unchanged.

Prices in the egg market continued to climb as a dozen farm eggs were selling for Tk 130, a Tk 15 jump in the past week

However, Mohammad Alam, a vendor at Segunbagicha Wet Market, said that those who bought two dozen eggs would get Tk 10 off.