Two weeks after Eid, rice prices still straining consumers’ budget

The price of Sonali chicken has gone down by Tk 20-30

Rice prices have remained high for two consecutive weeks following Eid-ul-Azha, with wholesale traders placing the blame on rice mill owners.

Although the price of Sonali chicken, which had surged the previous week, has begun to drop, consumers have found little relief when it comes to vegetables.

A visit to Mohammadpur’s Shia Mosque kitchen market, Krishi Market, and Town Hall kitchen market on Friday revealed these market trends.

A senior officer of a private company, who had come to Town Hall market, told bdnews24.com: “Compared with other days, prices are high on Fridays. The interim government is dealing with a lot of tasks, but it should also address the vegetable market.”

A survey of the market showed that the price of rice per kg has increased by Tk 2 to Tk 8 compared with pre-Eid prices.

Middle-class families generally include Miniket and Nazirshail rice in their daily diets.

Prices for both these varieties have gone up.

Depending on variety and quality, Miniket rice is being sold for Tk 76 to Tk 82 per kg.

High-quality Miniket is being sold for Tk 80 to Tk 82, which was priced at Tk 75 to Tk 76 before Eid.

The Miniket variety that was sold at Tk 72 to Tk 73 per kg before Eid is now priced at Tk 76 to Tk 78.

Nazirshail rice, which was Tk 74 per kg before Eid, is now being sold at Tk 82.

Another variety of Nazirshail now priced at Tk 78.50 per kg was available for Tk 72 before Eid.

BRRI-28 rice is selling for Tk 58 per kg, up from Tk 54.

Basmati rice, which was priced at Tk 88 per kg before Eid, is now selling at Tk 94. Aromatic Kataribhog rice is being sold for Tk 113 per kg, which was Tk 108 earlier.

Mohammad Anisur Rahman, a seller at the Bismillah Rice Mill in Town Hall, told bdnews24.com: “We have to buy rice at higher prices from the mill owners.

“The mill owners are saying that the price of paddy has gone up, which is why rice prices have increased.”

While rice prices remain high, the price of Sonali chicken, which rose last week, has fallen by Tk 20 to Tk 30 per kg.

Broiler chicken prices have also dropped by Tk 10 to Tk 20 per kg.

Prices of white and red layer chickens have remained the same, while the price of local chicken has decreased slightly.

Sonali chicken was being sold at Tk 290 to Tk 300 per kg on the day, compared with Tk 330 to Tk 340 the previous week.

Broiler chicken was available at Tk 150 to Tk 160 per kg, down from Tk 170 last week.

Red layer chicken stayed at Tk 300 to Tk 310 per kg, while white layer chicken was priced at Tk 280 to Tk 290.

Local chicken was selling for Tk 580 to Tk 620 per kg, down from Tk 650 to Tk 660 the previous week.

Farm-produced red eggs were sold at Tk 120 to Tk 125 per dozen, up from last week's Tk 110 to Tk 120.

White farm eggs were sold at Tk 120 per dozen.

A dozen local chicken eggs were priced at Tk 220. Duck eggs were sold for Tk 200 to Tk 210 per dozen, and quail eggs at Tk 50 per dozen.

Potatoes were sold at Tk 30 per kg, the same as the previous week.

Large onions were sold at Tk 70 per kg, and medium and small onions at Tk 60 per kg.

Thick ginger was priced at Tk 160 to Tk 170 per kg, and thin ginger at Tk 110 to Tk 120. Large garlic sold for Tk 160 to Tk 180 per kg, while smaller garlic sold for Tk 120 to Tk 130 per kg.

Vegetable prices have not come down; in fact, each week sees a tendency for one or two items to increase in price.

While prices may be slightly lower on other weekdays, Fridays see a noticeable spike of Tk 5 to Tk 10.

Among summer vegetables, bitter gourd was selling for Tk 90 to Tk 100 per kg, up from Tk 80 the previous week.

Okra, snake gourd, and ridge gourd were selling at Tk 60 per kg. Pointed gourd was priced at Tk 60 to Tk 80 per kg, and sponge gourd at Tk 70 per kg.

Spiny gourd was priced at Tk 40 per kg, taro root at Tk 90 to Tk 100, moringa at Tk 100 to Tk 120, and ridge gourd remained at Tk 60 per kg.

Tomatoes were sold at Tk 50 per kg, carrots at Tk 50 to Tk 60, radishes at Tk 50, and cucumbers at Tk 50 to Tk 60 per kg.

A four-piece bunch of lemons, depending on type, sold for Tk 25 to Tk 40, up from Tk 10 to Tk 20 the previous week.

Red amaranth remained at Tk 10 per bunch.

Bottle gourd leaves were priced at Tk 40 per bunch, spinach at Tk 10 to Tk 15, water spinach at Tk 15, Malabar spinach at Tk 30 to Tk 40, stem amaranth at Tk 10, napa greens at Tk 20, and jute greens at Tk 25 per bunch.