Hilsa, chicken prices jump before Boishakh festival

FE Team | Published: April 11, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: April 10, 2015 21:22:22

FE Report
Prices of poultry meat, fish and a few vegetable items increased Friday, a rise traders have attributed to the upcoming festival of Pahela Boishakh-or the Bangla new year.
Apart from the national fish Hilsa, prices of other fish species also increased significantly in the market in last seven days.
Rui, Katla, Grass Carp, Bighead, Aair, Golsha, Magur, Sing, and Pabda prices went up by Tk 50-100 per kg in a week.
Big sized rui was sold at Tk400-450, Pabda at Tk1,050-1,100 per kg on the day-a Tk100 increase.
Magur and Sing big sized was sold at Tk850-900 per kg-a Tk50 hike in a week.
Hilsa prices witnessed further 30-40 per cent increase in week as a medium sized (700-800) sold at Tk1,000-1,200 per piece.
Md Arman, a retailer at Nowabganj Bazar in the city, told the FE that demand for Hilsa and other fish has increased significantly, as city dwellers are storing fish to celebrate the Bangla new year.
He said prices have increased significantly in the wholesale markets in Sowarighat, Jatrabari, Sadarghat and Karwan Bazar before the Boishakh festival.
However, the silver fish Hilsa sized 550-600 gram was sold at Tk400-500 per piece at different super chain shops including Meena Bazar and Swapno in the city.  
Prices of poultry birds (broiler) were Tk 170 and Tk 175 (layer) per kg on the day-a Tk 5 hike in week.
Pakistani and local varieties witnessed a hike of Tk100-150 per piece. A medium sized local variety was selling at Tk400-420 per piece on the day.
Md Golam Patowary, a poultry retailer at Banalata Kitchen Market in Newmarket area, told the FE that the restaurants are buying a huge quantity of birds ahead of the Baishakh celebration, which may have pushed up prices.
He said: "I've bought 100 pieces of broiler at Tk156 per kg from Savar, which was Tk148-150 per kg a week back."
Prices of moringa (shajna), pointed gourd, potato, brinjal, green jute leaves, witnessed a Tk5-10 hike at per kg.
Brinjal was sold at Tk35-40, moringa at Tk60-80 per kg, green jute leaves at Tk10-12 per bunch on the day.
Prices of dry fish including laitta, chepa and other sea varieties, shoul and taki increased by Tk60-100 per kg on Friday.
Meanwhile, beef and mutton prices remained static maintaining the higher prices on the day.
Beef was selling at Tk370-380 per kg while buffalo meat at Tk340-350 per kg on the day.
Mutton was sold at Tk580-600 and sheep meat at Tk540-550 per kg on the day.      tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com