Egg prices showed a slight decline on Tuesday thanks to the import permits issued on Monday.
Potato prices, however, remained static at its previous high of Tk 48-55 a kg, defying the administered rate, traders said.
Meanwhile, the director general of the national consumer rights body during a visit to Bogura on Tuesday told journalists that they would recommend the government to go for similar measures like egg imports if the current prices of potato persist for next 2-3 days.
Egg prices in the city retail markets jumped to Tk 15 per piece in mid-August, but later declined to Tk 13-13.5, following the government set maximum retail price (MRP) of Tk 12.
Onion and potato prices started rocketing from July last.
The commerce ministry on September 14 finally fixed MRP of farm egg at Tk 12 a piece, potato at Tk 36 a kg and onion at Tk 65 a kg due to volatility in the market for the last one and a half months.
Later on Sunday last, the commerce ministry permitted four companies to import 40 million eggs to reign in the overheated market.
Farm brown egg prices declined slightly to Tk 12.25-13 a piece (146-156 a dozen) on Tuesday from Tk 12.5-13.3 a piece (150-160 a dozen) on the day before. However, white eggs were found selling at Tk 12 a piece in many places.
Jewel Rana, a grocer at Sankar in Dhanmondi, said they were selling eggs at Tk 150 per dozen or Tk 12.5 a piece while wholesale agents were delivering it at Tk 11.70 a piece.
He said the price might decline further if the government remains to stick to its import decision.
Saifur Rahman, proprietor of Tiger Trading, one of the four egg importing companies, said they have already started the import process and were expecting to bring in eggs within a week.
Their main objective is to ensure safe eggs at competitive prices, he added.
Visiting cold storages in Bogura, the DG of the Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection (DNCRP) pointed out that potato was selling at Rs. 14 a kg (equivalent to Tk 18.3) in Kolkata, India.
In comparison, he said, the price is Tk 50 in Bangladesh, which is unbearable.
He said potato price in the cold storages should be Tk 27 a kg and the maximum retail price Tk 36 a kg.
The DNCRP head said the Upazila administration will ensure that potato is being sold at Tk 27 a kg at the cold storages.
He will visit other potato hubs in Rangpur and Nilphamari today (Wednesday) and tomorrow (Thursday).
The DNCRP's 49 teams conducted drives in 64 markets in 47 districts on Tuesday and fined 105 traders and trading houses Tk 0.5 million, said a release.
tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com
© 2026 - All Rights with The Financial Express
