Prices of fish, poultry birds and a few vegetable items increased last week with traders attributing the hike to the rising demands ahead of the Pahela Baishakh festival.
Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bengali new year will be celebrated in the country on April 14.
Traders were selling poultry birds (broiler) at Tk 140-Tk 145 per kilogram (kg) and layer Tk 170 per kg at different kitchen markets in the capital on Thursday, a Tk 10 hike in a week.
Pakistani cock and their local varieties witnessed a hike of Tk 50-60 per kg. A Pakistani cock was sold at Tk 240-Tk 260 a kg and indigenous varieties Tk 400-Tk 420 a kg on Thursday.
Atikul Alam, a poultry retailer at Shankar, Dhanmondi, told the FE that prices of chicken have increased after five months.
He said: "I've bought 100 pieces of broiler at Tk 137 per kg from Basila, which was Tk 127-Tk 128 per kg a week back."
Md Morsehdul Islam Bappy, a poultry farm owner at Mirzapur, Tangail told the FE that demands from hotels and restaurants have increased significantly as they are hoarding chickens for Pahela Baishakh festival.
He said chicken and egg prices will further increase in next weeks.
Prices of Hilsa and most of other fishes also witnessed a hike last week.
A medium-sized Hilsa was sold at Tk 450-Tk 800 on the day, a Tk 50-80 increase in the last seven days. The big-sized Hilsa was almost absent in the markets.
Hilsa fishes weighing over 900 grammes were seen at a few markets with the traders charging Tk 1250-Tk 1500 for each piece - a Tk 150 rise in a week.
Prices of most of the sweet water fishes have also increased by Tk 50-Tk 60 per kg.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) president Golam Rahman said the government should take steps to conduct drive at markets ahead the forthcoming Pahela Baishakh and Holly Ramadan to curb any artificial price hike.
Prices of some vegetables including moringa (drumstick), cucumber, ash gourd increased by Tk 5-Tk 10 a kg/piece last week.
Prices of ginger also increased by Tk 10 per kg as the staple spice was sold at Tk 100-Tk 120 a kg based on quality on Thursday.
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