Published : 25 Sep 2026, 09:11 PM
Updated : 25 Sep 2026, 09:11 PM
The prices of several essential commodities have started rising again following a Tk 20-per-litre hike in fuel prices, with flour, rice, eggs, milk, cooking oil, lentils and vegetables becoming costlier.
Traders attribute the increases to higher transportation and production costs, while consumers allege that traders are using the fuel price hike as a pretext to raise prices.
Visits to Mohammadpur Krishi market, Town Hall market, and Karwan Bazar showed a trend of rising prices for all essential items in the past week.
Flour Prices Rise
Jannatul Ferdous bought a 900g packet of rice flour for Tk 70 at Sujan Good Bhandar in Mohammadpur Krishi Market, compared with Tk 66 just a few days earlier.
“I need it for making flatbread at home in the morning. I bought a packet for Tk 66 just a few days ago. But today, they are asking for Tk 70,” she told bdnews24.com.
Shop owner Selim Mia said he had not increased prices of his existing stock but would have to charge more for newly purchased goods.
“I haven't raised the prices of the stock I already had. I have to charge Tk 2 or Tk 3 more for the goods I am purchasing,” he said, citing higher fuel prices.
He also said prices of flattened rice and puffed rice could rise.
The government has raised the prices of diesel to Tk 135, kerosene to Tk 155, octane to Tk 165 and petrol to Tk 160 per litre.
Packaged flour, which sold for Tk 70-75 per kg last month, rose to Tk 80 last week and another Tk 5 after the fuel price hike. Packaged atta now costs Tk 70.
Unpackaged flour rose to around Tk 70 per kg, while unpackaged atta is being sold around Tk 50.
Newly introduced 2kg packets of atta and flour carry printed prices of Tk 140 and Tk 160 respectively.
Shopkeeper Jahirul Islam at Karwan Bazar said, “There is no telling how high the price of refined flour will go. Prices rose over a two-month period, and there was another hike just two days ago. We simply sell at the price marked by the company.”
Asked why companies had raised prices again, he said: “It’s the usual. They cited fuel costs, rising production expenses, and increased transport charges as reasons for the higher prices.”
Rice, Eggs, Oil and Milk
A dozen eggs now cost Tk 160, as red lentils have risen to Tk 100 from Tk 90 to Tk 95 per kg. TCB data puts the lentil price at about Tk 92.
Since Wednesday, there has been a new shortage of half-litre and one-litre soybean oil bottles. The smaller bottles had become available after a Tk 5-per-litre price hike earlier this month.
“There hadn't been any issues with oil supplies for a week or two. When I went to Karwan Bazar on Wednesday to stock up, the small bottles were unavailable,” said Tanvir Joy, proprietor of Boshila City Housing Daily Needs.
A two-litre bottle of soybean oil now costs around Tk 404, up from Tk 398, while the price of a five-litre bottle has increased from Tk 975 to Tk 988.
Paijam or Atash rice, which sold for Tk 56 to 58 per kg last week, now costs Tk 60.
Lokman, a shareholder at a rice shop in Mohammadpur New Kitchen Market, said transport costs for bringing rice from Kushtia had risen by nearly Tk 5,000.
“These costs have to be factored into the wholesale price. Wholesale costs per sack have gone up by Tk 15 to Tk 20. Naturally, retailers will charge an extra two or three taka,” he said.
However, he does not expect further increases, saying, “The paddy harvest season is here, and new rice is arriving. Rice prices won't go up.”
Packaged liquid milk has also become Tk 10 more expensive per litre. At Mohammadpur Town Hall, half-litre packs of Milk Vita, Farm Fresh, Aarong and Pran Dairy are selling for Tk 55, while one-litre packs cost Tk 110 to Tk 115.
SM Amir Hamza Shatil, president of the Bangladesh Milk Producers' Cooperative Union (Milk Vita), attributed the increase to higher gas, electricity, cattle feed, processing, transportation, and marketing costs.
He also cited higher costs of transporting milk to Dhaka and frequent power outages that force the factory to use diesel generators.
Vegetables Also Costlier
Although chicken prices have not risen from last week, traders fear fuel costs could push them higher.
Green chilli prices have almost doubled over the week, rising from Tk 80-100 to Tk 160-180 per kg.
Round eggplants now cost Tk 140 to Tk 160 per kg, long eggplants Tk 100, and ridge gourd and snake gourd Tk 80. Pointed gourd, bitter gourd and sponge gourd sell for Tk 70-80, while okra costs Tk 70. A week ago, these vegetables were available for Tk 50-60 per kg.
Traders said wholesale prices have also risen.
