Prices of loose edible oil, chicken, and vegetables marked further rise last week, causing more hardship for common people.
Prices of the Sonali and Pakistani chicken varieties rose sharply to Tk 380-420 per kg, increasing by Tk 20-30 a kg.
Price of the indigenous chicken species also went up to Tk 750-850 per kg, depending on the market, Tk 50 a kg hike while price of the broiler chicken stayed static at Tk 200-220 per kg. Price of eggs remained unchanged at
Tk 110-115 per dozen.
Kamal Uddin, a vendor at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said Sonali chicken price increased by about Tk 50,000 per quintal (100 kg) after
the Eid-ul-Fitr (celebrated on March 21).
He said many farms were closed for months due to poor business, which affected supply. Local chicken supply also dropped.
Meanwhile, loose soybean oil price rose to Tk 195-200 per litre due to supply shortage.
One- and two-litre bottles of soybean oil were also less available in grocery shops, marking Tk 10 a litre further hike.
Milton Halder, a grocer at Sher-e-Bangla Road in Mohammadpur, said distributors were not supplying enough oil. He added that although he ordered one- and two-litre bottles, he received five-litre bottles instead.
Ansar Ali, an edible oil distributor at Moulovibazar in Old Dhaka, said refiners had almost stopped supplying oil over the past two weeks. He also noted that higher transport costs affected the loose oil market.
SM Nazer Hossain, vice president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, said price instability in the edible oil market has continued since mid-Ramadan (first week of March). He said the government has taken little initiative to ensure normal supply.
He said that the ongoing war in the West Asia may further affect supply.
He suggested that the government should act quickly and increase market monitoring to control prices.
However, prices of most vegetables increased by Tk 5.0-15 per kg in a week, except for onion and potato.
Potato was sold at Tk 18-25 per kg and onion at Tk 30-45 per kg, depending on qualities.
Prices of rice, beef, sugar, salt, and pulses remained unchanged at their previously high levels.
tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com
© 2026 - All Rights with The Financial Express
