The misery of consumers has reached its peak as prices of most essentials, including fish, meat, eggs, vegetables and spices, saw a notable hike last week.
Beef price sold at Tk 800-860 and Sonali chicken at Tk 390-420 a kg, eggs at Tk 140-150 a dozen, pangas at Tk 240-300 a kg and cultured ruhi at Tk 380-550 a kg on Friday.
On the other hand, brinjal retailed at Tk 110-130 a kg, green chilli at Tk 160-180, onion at Tk 70-80, garlic and ginger at Tk 240-280.
All these consumables have witnessed an 8.0 to 15 per cent surge in a week, according to market sources.
Insiders say the record appreciation of dollar against BDT, by Tk 7.0 on May 08, is also set to raise prices of flour, sugar, edible oil, pulses, baby foods, powdered milk and other import-dependent products.
Beef prices continued to rise as it reached Tk 800-860 a kg on Friday.
Gulzar Hossain, a meat trader at Rayerbazar in Dhaka, said cattle prices increased by 40 per cent centring on Eid-ul-Azha to be held in the third week of next month.
He said cattle rearers and seasonal traders countrywide were preserving cattle to make a windfall profit during the festival of sacrifice.
Meanwhile, the price of medium-size pangas was Tk 200-220 a kg seven days ago, but the same retailed at Tk 240-280 on Friday.
Tilapia has gone up to Tk 240-260 a kg from Tk 180-220 a kg, while cultured ruhi witnessed a further hike by Tk 30-50 as retailed at Tk 380-550 the same day.
Mohan Swarma, a fish vendor at Rayerbazar, said rising costs of beef, broiler chicks and eggs have fuelled the prices of cultured fish in recent weeks.
Prices have risen by 8.0-10 per cent in Natore, Trishal, Sirajganj and Mawa wholesale outlets, according to him.
Mr Swarma said the supply of hilsa was rare and each hilsa sold at Tk 1,200-2,300 a kg based on size.
Meanwhile, teasel gourd sold at Tk 120, while long-yard bean, pointed gourd, bitter gourd, country bean, sponge gourd and snake gourd at Tk 80-100 a kg on Friday, up Tk 10-20 a kg in a week.
Brinjal retailed at Tk 100-130 a kg on the day, depending on quality, and moringa at Tk 140-180 a kg.
Papaya, once the cheapest vegetable round the year, made a record as it retailed at Tk 70-80 a kg, which traders attributed to a fall in production as well as rise in demand for hot weather.
However, further appreciation of dollar against BDT (Bangladesh taka) is likely to fuel the prices of many other commodities, according to insiders.
Helal Uddin, president of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, said this abrupt dollar price hike carries adverse implications, especially for imports, likely compelling importers to hike product prices, thereby burdening commoners and escalating inflation.
Taslim Shahriar, senior assistant general manager at Meghna Group of Industries, aptly described the predicament faced by importers, labelling the escalating dollar price as a significant setback.
Price adjustment could further inflate costs, he said.
However, importers said prices of sugar, wheat, flour, edible oil, powdered milk, pulses and other import-dependent goods would be pricier with newer price adjustments.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
