Beef prices up 30 pc
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
FE Report
The price of beef in retail markets increased by over 30 per cent from that of last year, due to short supply of cattlehead.
The demand for beef usually increases before festivals as it is a common item specially for the Muslims.
The traders and sellers apprehended that the prices of beef might go up further in a day or two as the demand-supply gap increases.
In the city's kitchen markets, on Monday beef was selling at Tk 220-230 a kg, which is Tk 50-60 more than that of last year.
Beef was being sold at Tk 190 per kg two weeks ago. A packet of processed beef is being sold at Tk 230 per kg, up by Tk 40 from two weeks ago.
Being upset for his dull business Amzad Hossain, a butcher at Mirpur-1 kitchen market, said, "On an average, I sold about 10 maunds of beef per day before Eid-ul-Fitr. But this year I am selling seven maunds per day."
"The prices of cattlehead have also jumped. I have to pay additonal Tk 3000 for buying a cow now," he added.
Anwar Ali, a cattle trader, said that the farmers are unwilling to sell their cows before the Eid-ul-Fitr to be celebrated within two or three days as they make more profit before Eid-ul-Azha.
"Moreover, the supply of cow has decreased because of border security tightened by both the Bangladesh and Indian governments to stop smuggling of cattles from India.
Monir Hossain, a non-government service holder, cut back on his expenditure to buy meat because of price hike.
"Usually, I buy 10 kgs beef before Eid-ul-Fitr festival. But I bought six kg beef because of exorbitant price," he added.
Chairman of Bengal Meat Processing Industries Ltd, the lone beef exporter and domestic supplier, Mazharul Islam said, "The supply shortage is the main reason for spiraling price of beef."
He, however, said price-increase before any festival has become a common trend in the country.
The price of beef in retail markets increased by over 30 per cent from that of last year, due to short supply of cattlehead.
The demand for beef usually increases before festivals as it is a common item specially for the Muslims.
The traders and sellers apprehended that the prices of beef might go up further in a day or two as the demand-supply gap increases.
In the city's kitchen markets, on Monday beef was selling at Tk 220-230 a kg, which is Tk 50-60 more than that of last year.
Beef was being sold at Tk 190 per kg two weeks ago. A packet of processed beef is being sold at Tk 230 per kg, up by Tk 40 from two weeks ago.
Being upset for his dull business Amzad Hossain, a butcher at Mirpur-1 kitchen market, said, "On an average, I sold about 10 maunds of beef per day before Eid-ul-Fitr. But this year I am selling seven maunds per day."
"The prices of cattlehead have also jumped. I have to pay additonal Tk 3000 for buying a cow now," he added.
Anwar Ali, a cattle trader, said that the farmers are unwilling to sell their cows before the Eid-ul-Fitr to be celebrated within two or three days as they make more profit before Eid-ul-Azha.
"Moreover, the supply of cow has decreased because of border security tightened by both the Bangladesh and Indian governments to stop smuggling of cattles from India.
Monir Hossain, a non-government service holder, cut back on his expenditure to buy meat because of price hike.
"Usually, I buy 10 kgs beef before Eid-ul-Fitr festival. But I bought six kg beef because of exorbitant price," he added.
Chairman of Bengal Meat Processing Industries Ltd, the lone beef exporter and domestic supplier, Mazharul Islam said, "The supply shortage is the main reason for spiraling price of beef."
He, however, said price-increase before any festival has become a common trend in the country.