For many low and middle-income households in Dhaka, eggs are an inexpensive source of nutrition. According to health experts, an egg has only 75 calories. But it also has seven grams of high-quality protein, five grams of fat, and 1.6 grams of saturated fat, along with iron, vitamins, minerals and other nutritional elements.
Eggs are also popular among the fixed income people living in the urban areas. Most of these people work for long hours. After struggling through the traffic, they often do not have much time to cook sumptuous meals. This is when they find it easier to prepare an egg omelette or boiled egg. These processes take less than five to 10 minutes.
Most of these people are currently suffering due to a recent rise in price of eggs in Dhaka and other parts of the country. Till October 18, a dozen eggs could be bought at Tk 100. But this increased to Tk 110 the next day. At the moment, price of a dozen eggs are varying between Tk 115 and 120 in most kitchen markets of Dhaka, Chattogram and other cities.
As such, the price of a single egg is now over Tk 10. This was Tk 6 even around June this year.
The dailies have reported that the increase in prices is due to the low supply from poultry farms. According to Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC), many poultry farms remained shut after incurring losses. Also, the outbreak of H1N1 virus among chickens is another reason behind the low supply. As a result, the production of eggs has decreased by nearly 30 per cent in less than a year.
While the BPICC has given some reasons, most of the citizens are alleging that some unscrupulous traders are increasing prices by creating an artificial crisis. These consumers feel that effective steps from concerned departments of the government can rein in the increasing prices.
I hope that the government will look into this matter, sooner rather than later.
Akibul Javed
Indira Road, Dhaka
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