Prices sky-high two days ahead of Eid

Prices of nine essential commodities witnessed a further hike on Sunday, just a couple of days ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr festival, intensifying owes of the consumers again.
Beef, cultured and indigenous fish, broiler chicken, Kok or Sonali variety chicken, eggs, aromatic Chinigura or kalijeera rice, potato, cucumber, tomato and garlic became pricier further.
Beef was sold at Tk780-860 a kg, depending on areas of the city, marking Tk30-50 a kg further hike in two days and Tk 80-90 a kg in seven days, according to meat traders.
Meanwhile, broiler chicken price shot up to a one-year high at Tk250-265 a kg just ahead of Eid, marking Tk30-35 a kg surge in a week.
Kok, sonali or Pakistani chicken prices also increased to Tk360-380 a kg and indigenous variety chicken to Tk700-750 a kg, Tk50-100 rise per kg.
Cultured ruhi, katla were retailed at Tk 350-600 a kg depending on size -- Tk50-100 surge in a week.
Riverine ruhi, katla, aair, boal, shoul, shrimp, prawn witnessed Tk100-200 a kg further hike before the Eid.
Md Rubel, a meat trader at West Rayerbazar, said cattle traders have raised the animal's price by 20-30 per cent in last two weeks.
They are also releasing cattle in lesser number as most of them started preserving cows for the Eid-ul-Azha, he said.
"I have raised price of beef by Tk50 a kg to adjust with the increased cost for cattle," he added.
Mostafa Hoque Bachchu, a Karwan Bazar-based fish trader, said prices of fish witnessed a 30-40 per cent surge in last one week at Mawa, Sirajganj, Natore and Trishal in Mymensingh wholesale.
He said low catch in the river as well as rocketing prices of fish feed for aquaculture have pushed up the price.
He also said the higher prices of beef and broiler chicken have also been causing price surge of fish further.
Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan said the prices of essentials had already been at their peak before the beginning of Ramadan.
And lack of an effective market monitoring drive by the government agencies has encouraged traders to fix prices of essentials on their will, he said.
Meanwhile, prices of cucumber and tomato which showed a decline in the middle of Ramadan started increasing again from Sunday morning.
Cucumber was sold at Tk 70-90 and tomato at Tk 60-70 a kg on the day.
Potato showed further a hike by Tk5.0 a kg as it was retailed at Tk50-65 a kg while imported garlic shot up to Tk220-240 a kg on Sunday.
Aromatic rice showed a hike again as Chinigura or Kalijeera varieties in loose form were retailed at Tk150-155 a kg and in branded packets at Tk165-180 a kg marking Tk10 a kg surge.

[email protected]