People on low incomes purchese kitchen commodities from an OMS (open-market sale) truck of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh in the capital's Mughda area on Friday. — FE Photo by Shafiqul Alam Prices of nutrition-rich commodity egg and another essential item, green chilli, declined last week, thanks to multiple initiatives taken by the interim government.
On the other hand, the price of Sonali chicken variety increased notably during the period. Vegetable prices also remained at their previous highs.
The price of a dozen eggs has declined to Tk 150 in kitchen markets, down from Tk 180 a week ago.
Grocers are currently selling egg at Tk 160-165 a dozen from Tk 180-190 earlier.
The government has undertaken multiple measures to keep egg prices stable, making them more affordable for consumers.
These efforts have resulted in a drop in the market price of egg.
The government has asked the authorities concerned to exempt egg from import duty and set its selling price that, retailers report, is helping consumers.
According to traders, this drop in egg price is attributed to a close watch of government agencies and an increase in supply from farmers and corporations.
The government has also allowed the import of an additional 4.5-million eggs without any duty, contributing to the price fall, said Md Amnatullah, a leading egg wholesaler in Tejgaon area.
But the price for Sonali variety from Pakistani has surged by Tk 30-50, rising to Tk 320-330 a kg on Friday.
The price of broiler chicken has also increased by Tk 10-15 a kg, now selling between Tk 200 and Tk 215.
Liakat Ali, a chicken vendor at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said prices surged amid a supply crunch caused by recent floods and heavy rainfall countrywide.
In the vegetable market, prices have remained at their previous levels.
Once a low-cost item, papaya now retails at Tk 50.
Other vegetables are significantly more expensive as pointed gourd costs Tk 80-100, sponge gourd Tk 80-90, long-yard bean Tk 100-120, round brinjal Tk 130-140, long brinjal Tk 100-120 and tomatoes Tk 280-300 a kg.
On the other hand, ridge gourd, teasel gourd and snake gourd retail at Tk 100-120 a kg.
Haider Hossain, a vegetable trader in Rayerbazar-Beribandh area, said the production of summer crops is now at its end, while early winter crop witnessed severe damage following heavy rainfall and flooding.
He said vegetable supply would remain tight until the last week of November.
The market for green chilli, which had seen inflated prices, has begun to become stable, with prices dropping to Tk 300-350 a kg - nearly a 100-per cent decrease from Tk 600 a kg on October 14.
Traders said the resumption of imports after the Durga Puja festival has contributed to this drop in prices.
According to the plant quarantine wing of the government, more than 1,900 tonnes of green chilli have been imported in the last three days.
Meanwhile, the interim government has granted duty exemptions on the import of edible oil, sugar and egg.
However, despite an exemption on VAT, prices of loose soybean and palm oil have been increased by Tk 5.0-6.0 a litre in a week.
Traders at Dhaka city's Moulvibazar wholesale hub said consumers could get oil in reduced rates within the next four days.
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