The Eid-ul-Azha holiday mood continues to linger in the capital, leaving kitchen markets relatively quiet as many residents have yet to return from their village homes. Despite the lower number of shoppers, prices of most vegetables and fish remain high, while chicken prices have increased even as egg prices have eased somewhat.
A visit to several kitchen markets across Dhaka on Friday found significantly fewer customers than on a typical Friday. Traders said many families are still outside the capital after the Eid holidays, resulting in lower footfall in markets.
Many fish and meat shops have yet to resume full operations. While most beef and mutton outlets remained closed, chicken shops were open and operating.
Broiler chicken was selling at Tk170-180 per kilogram, cock chicken at Tk340-350 per kilogram, and layer chicken at Tk380-400 per kilogram. Pakistani chicken was also available at Tk350 per kilogram.
Egg prices showed some relief for consumers. Red eggs were selling at Tk120-130 per dozen, white eggs at Tk110-120 per dozen, and duck eggs at Tk160-170 per dozen.
Alamin, a chicken seller at Raysaheb Bazar, said he reopened his shop on Friday but business remained slow.
“People are still in their village homes. Since many households still have sacrificial meat at home, demand for chicken is also low. This situation may continue for several weeks,” he said.
Customer Sadat Sarkar said broiler chicken prices had increased since Eid.
“The day after Eid, broiler chicken was Tk150 per kilogram. Now I have to buy it at Tk170. However, egg prices have fallen by Tk10-15 per dozen, which is somewhat comforting,” he said.
The vegetable market continued to show upward price trends for most items.
Local tomatoes were selling at Tk140-170 per kilogram, local carrots at Tk160, imported Chinese carrots at Tk180, beans at Tk320, drumsticks at Tk180, local cucumbers at Tk120-160, green chilies at Tk140, and coriander leaves at Tk200 per kilogram.
Long eggplants were selling at Tk70-80 per kilogram, round eggplants at Tk80-100, bitter gourd and small bitter gourd at Tk80, teasel gourd at Tk80, okra at Tk40-80, pointed gourd at Tk80-140, snake gourd at Tk80, sponge gourd at Tk70, ridge gourd at Tk100, yardlong beans at Tk100, taro stolons at Tk80, radish at Tk40-80, and taro corms at Tk80-120 per kilogram.
Depending on size, bottle gourds were selling at Tk60-80 each, ash gourds at Tk50-70 each, cauliflower at Tk70 each, and cabbage at Tk60-70 each.
Vegetable trader Mehedi attributed the higher prices to reduced supply.
“There are fewer customers, and wholesalers have not fully returned to the market. Supply is somewhat lower, which is keeping prices high,” he said.
Meanwhile, prices of potatoes and onions remained relatively stable.
Local onions were selling at Tk45 per kilogram, cross-variety onions at Tk40, and both red and white potatoes at Tk25 per kilogram.
Local garlic was selling at Tk90-100 per kilogram, Chinese garlic at Tk130-140, Chinese ginger at Tk180, and Indian ginger at Tk160 per kilogram.
Fish supplies were available, but prices remained elevated.
Depending on size and weight, hilsa was selling at Tk1,300-3,000 per kilogram, rohu at Tk320-400, catla at Tk380-450, kalibaush at Tk350-600, and shrimp at Tk800-1,800 per kilogram.
Pangas and tilapia were selling at Tk200 per kilogram, farmed koi at Tk220, mrigel at Tk300, kachki at Tk500, pabda at Tk400-600, shing at Tk320-1,200, tengra at Tk700, bele at Tk700-1,200, and boal at Tk600-1,000 per kilogram.
Fish seller Alamgir said business had yet to recover to pre-Eid levels.
“I reopened my shop two days ago. Sales are taking place, but not like before Eid. Many people bought their groceries before Eid, so customer turnout remains low,” he said.
Although markets in the capital remained less crowded on the first weekly holiday following the Eid vacation, consumers have yet to see meaningful relief in the prices of essential commodities, leaving many households still grappling with high living costs.
