Eid ended a week ago, but its impact is still being felt in the capital’s kitchen markets, with prices of fish, chicken, vegetables and grocery items remaining high. Despite slight fluctuations, most items are still being sold at elevated Eid-time rates.
A visit to the Mirpur-1 kitchen market in the capital on Friday revealed the situation.
Vegetable prices remain high
Despite the end of the Eid holidays, there has been little relief in the essential commodities market. Prices of almost all vegetables remain high.
On Friday, local tomatoes were selling at Tk30 per kg, carrots at Tk60, long brinjal at Tk60, round white brinjal at Tk80 and round black brinjal at Tk100. Beans were priced at Tk80–100 depending on type, while local cucumber sold for Tk80–100. Bitter gourd was Tk60–80, karela Tk100, okra Tk60, and hybrid pointed gourd Tk60. Local pointed gourd was Tk240 per kg.
Other prices included snake gourd at Tk80, sponge gourd Tk80–100, ridge gourd Tk120, yardlong beans Tk100, taro stems Tk90–100, radish Tk60, taro root Tk80, green chilli Tk120, coriander leaves Tk120, hybrid cucumber Tk50, papaya Tk40 and pumpkin Tk40 per kg.
Each bottle gourd was selling at Tk80–100, ash gourd Tk80, cauliflower Tk60 and cabbage Tk60. A bunch of green bananas cost Tk40–50, while lemons were Tk50–60 per four pieces.
Out of around 30 listed vegetables, 26 were priced above Tk50, with 11 items costing Tk100 or more. Buyers said vegetable prices remain high across the board.
Customer Saiful Islam said prices have not dropped even after Eid. “Except for a few items, most vegetables are still expensive. Even lemons are being sold at Tk50–60 per four pieces,” he said.
Sellers, however, did not consider the prices excessively high, saying they were slightly elevated due to the arrival of new seasonal produce, which they expect to become cheaper in the coming days.
Potato prices slightly up
Potato prices, though still affordable, have increased slightly. Red and white potatoes, previously sold at Tk20 per kg, are now priced at Tk25 per kg.
Onions and local garlic remain relatively affordable. Old variety onions are selling at Tk35–40 per kg, local onions at Tk40, local garlic at Tk70–80, Chinese garlic Tk180–200, Chinese ginger Tk160, and Indian ginger Tk150–160 per kg.
Poultry and meat prices high
Chicken prices, which rose ahead of Eid, remain high. Except for broiler chicken, prices of other varieties are still steep. Beef and mutton prices also remain high.
Beef is selling at Tk800 per kg and mutton at Tk1,250 per kg. Broiler chicken is priced at Tk185 per kg, cock chicken Tk380–390, layer chicken Tk320, and local chicken Tk700 per kg. Eggs are being sold at Tk100 per dozen for both red and white varieties, while duck eggs cost Tk190 per dozen.
Md Sultan, a vendor at B Baria Chicken House, said broiler chicken prices dropped from Tk220–225 during Eid to Tk185 now. However, prices of other chicken varieties remain high and are unlikely to fall soon.
Fish prices still elevated
Fish prices also remain high across the market. Hilsa is selling between Tk1,200 and Tk3,800 per kg depending on size. Rohu is priced at Tk350–500 per kg, katla Tk400–650, black baghaira Tk400–700, shrimp Tk1,000–1,800, kanchki fish Tk400, koi fish Tk250–300, pabda Tk400–600, singi Tk400–1,000, tengra Tk600–1,200, bele fish Tk1,200–1,400, meni fish Tk600–700, boroal Tk600–1,200 and rupchanda Tk1,200–1,600 per kg.
Fish seller Yunus Ali said prices remain high after Eid and may ease with improved water flow during the monsoon season. However, he cautioned that prices could rise further ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
Grocery prices unchanged at high level
Prices of most grocery items have remained unchanged at elevated levels since before Eid. This year, cardamom prices have increased by Tk500 per kg, cloves by Tk250 and black pepper by Tk100. Polao rice prices have also risen by Tk15–35 per kg.
Currently, packaged polao rice is selling at Tk170 per kg, loose polao rice Tk125–150, small lentils (masur dal) Tk150, large masur dal Tk90, large mung dal Tk140, small mung dal Tk170, khesari dal Tk100, arhar dal Tk110, chickpeas Tk80–95 and mashkalai dal Tk160 per kg.
Bottled soybean oil is selling at Tk195 per litre, loose soybean oil Tk190, packaged ghee Tk1,420–1,550, loose ghee Tk1,400, packaged sugar Tk105, loose sugar Tk105, 2-kg packet flour Tk145, 2-kg atta Tk130, and loose mustard oil Tk220.
Spices remain expensive, with cardamom at Tk5,200 per kg, cinnamon Tk560, cloves Tk1,450, white pepper Tk1,350 and black pepper Tk1,280 per kg.
Overall, the market remains “hot” even after Eid, with prices of most essential commodities still high. While consumers continue to struggle for relief, traders expect prices to ease in the coming days if supply conditions improve.
