Published : 22 Aug 2026, 03:34 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:34 AM
Vegetable prices have eased in Dhaka's kitchen markets, with green chillies and chicken also cheaper on the week.
But rice, particularly fine or Miniket varieties, has bucked the trend, climbing by up to Tk 2 a kg.
The picture emerged from a visit to several markets in the capital, including Karwan Bazar and Mohammadpur, on Friday.
A week earlier, coarse rice was selling at Tk 52 to Tk 55 a kg, BR-28 at Tk 60, Miniket at Tk 78 and Katari Nazir at Tk 85.
On Friday, BR-28 was fetching around Tk 60, Miniket had climbed to Tk 72, and Nazirshail was selling for as much as Tk 88, though Miniket prices varied by brand and quality.
Wholesalers reported similar increases at the rice trading level.
A 50kg sack of Miniket rice has cost around Tk 50 to Tk 60 more over the past week, they said.
Mohammadpur Krishi Market wholesale rice trader Mozammel Haque told bdnews24.com that price swings of Tk 2 to Tk 3 a kg were common, driven by multiple rounds of handling and rising transport costs.
"After factoring in all costs, a sack of Paijam (medium-grade rice) now costs Tk 2,200 to Tk 2,250, working out to about Tk 45 to Tk 45.5 a kg. Smaller shops charge a bit more, selling it at Tk 52 to Tk 55."
Green chilli prices, meanwhile, have been on a downward slide for weeks as imports pick up.
On Aug 14, chillies were retailing at around Tk 200 a kg.
A week later, prices had eased further to Tk 100-120 at retail, while wholesale buyers at Karwan Bazar were picking them up for Tk 60-80, depending on quality.
Karwan Bazar wholesaler Sohel Mia put the drop down to a rise in shipments of Indian chillies boosting supply.
Though no supply shortage had been reported, most vegetables were selling above Tk 80 a kg last week.
Prices eased somewhat on Friday.
At the Mohammadpur Town Hall retail market, cucumbers sold at Tk 60 per kg, while wholesale buyers picked them up at Karwan Bazar for Tk 40 per kg and warehouse depots offered them at Tk 20 per kg for bulk purchases.
Price tracking across both markets showed papayas retailing at Tk 30 to Tk 35 per kg against wholesale rates of Tk 20 and depot rates of Tk 16, while yardlong beans fetched Tk 60 per kg at retail, Tk 40 at wholesale, and Tk 25 to Tk 30 at depot level.
Pumpkin, okra, bitter gourd and pointed gourd were all selling at Tk 40 a kg at retail, down from Tk 50-60 last week.
Sweet gourd prices fell by Tk 15 this week to Tk 25 a kg.
Long-shaped aubergines remained expensive at Tk 120 per kg, while large round varieties were Tk 150-160. Prices have barely moved from last week.
Karwan Bazar wholesale vegetable trader Azmal Hossain said supplies at the depot had increased sharply since last week, gradually bringing prices down.
He said prices could fall further if there are no disruptions such as natural disasters.
Onion prices showed little change, holding at around Tk 60 a kg last week and now ranging between Tk 40-50 wholesale and Tk 55-60 retail, depending on quality, though buyers can get two kilos for Tk 100.
Potato prices dropped from Tk 5 to Tk 25 a kg.
Chicken prices have eased somewhat but remain elevated.
Broiler chicken, which had held at Tk 200 a kg for the past two weeks, is now selling at Tk 180-185.
Sonali chicken, which cost Tk 320-330 a kg last Friday, has dropped to Tk 260-280.
That marks a fall of up to Tk 15 a kg for broiler and Tk 40-60 for Sonali over the week.
Egg prices remained unchanged from last week, at Tk 150-155 a dozen.
