Staff Reporter :
The price of beef has surged by up to Tk50 per kg within a month, preceding Shab-e-Barat and Ramadan, purportedly due to a supply shortage. Meanwhile, vegetable prices have shown a downward trend, decreasing by Tk10 to Tk20 per item.
Furthermore, other daily essentials are being sold at high prices in the capital.
Upon visiting various kitchen markets in the capital, including Karwan Bazar, Moghbazar, Hatirpool, Palashi, New Market, KillarMor, and Rampura, it was observed that beef is being sold at elevated prices.
Golam Murtaza, president of the Bangladesh Meat Traders Association, attributed the increase in beef prices to farmers’ reluctance to sell cows presently, anticipating better prices during Ramadan and Eid.
“Due to this supply crisis, the price of cattle has slightly risen in the market, subsequently affecting the price of meat,” he stated.
According to discussions with meat traders, most butchers are now selling beef at Tk720 to Tk750 per kg, marking an increase from the previous weeks. The market price has risen by at least Tk50 per kg in the last two weeks, compared to Tk700 per kg in the last week of January.
Towards the end of 2023, beef prices experienced a sudden decline, with meat traders in Dhaka selling beef at Tk600 per kg. Some traders, incurring losses, set the price at a maximum of Tk650 per kg in certain areas of Dhaka until January 7th.
On Friday, after talking with meat traders, the correspondent learned that most of the butchers are selling beef at Tk720 to Tk750 per kg.
Even in the last week of January, the consumers were able to buy beef within Tk700 per kg. Accordingly, the market price has increased by at least Tk50 per kg in the last two weeks.
Towards the end of 2023, beef prices suddenly started to fall. At that time, meat traders in Dhaka sold beef at Tk600 per kg.
Some traders are suffering loss, because of this, the traders set the price of beef at a maximum of Tk650 per kg. This rate was continued in some areas of Dhaka till election day 7 January.
The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) reported beef being sold at Tk700 to Tk750 per kg, indicating a Tk50 increase in the last month compared to the same time last year when beef was sold at Tk700 to Tk720 per kg.
According to TCB calculations, beef prices have increased compared to last year. At this time last year, beef was sold at Tk700 to Tk720 per kg.
Rampura Bazar vegetables vegetable trader Abu Hossain said the supply of vegetables in the market is available made the price low by Tk10 to Tk20 comparing last week. After a long time the vegetables prices are showing down trend.
The prices of onions, garlic, eggs and palm oil witnessed a fresh rise on the kitchen markets in the capital Dhaka on Friday while the prices of other commodities including rice, vegetables, flour and sugar remained excessively high.
Retailers blamed wholesalers for increasing the prices of onions and garlic amid the ongoing harvesting season.
They also said that companies and distributers increased the prices of eggs and palm oil over the week.
The prices of onions increased by Tk 10 a kilogram over the week.
The local variety of onions sold for Tk 90-100 a kilogram while the imported item sold for Tk 100-110 a kilogram on Friday.
The prices of garlic increased by Tk 20 a kilogram on the kitchen markets in Dhaka and its local variety retailed at Tk 240-280 a kilogram while the imported garlic sold for Tk 230-240 a kilogram on Friday.
The price of eggs increased by Tk 2-3 a hali (four pieces) and the items sold for Tk 45-47 a hali in the city.
The price of palm oil increased by Tk 5 a litre and the item was sold for Tk 135-140 a litre in the city on Friday.
Unpackaged soya bean oil sold for Tk 160 a litre while the bottled edible oil was sold for Tk 170-175 a litre on the day.
A five-litre bottle of soya bean oil sold for Tk 810-845 on the city markets.
The prices of rice remained high despite drives from government agencies to curb the price of the staple food.
The coarse and medium-quality varieties of rice sold for Tk 54-60 a kilogram.
The price of lower-grade Miniket sold for Tk 65-70 a kilogram over the week.
The fine variety of Miniket sold for Tk 74-78 a kilogram and Najirshail for Tk 75-80 a kilogram on Friday.
The prices of vegetables also remained high on the city markets over the week.
Aubergine was sold for Tk 70-100 a kilogram, papaya for Tk 40-50 a kilogram, bitter gourd for Tk 80-90 a kilogram, cauliflower for Tk 40-50 a piece, cabbage for Tk 40-50 apiece, cucumber for Tk 50-60 a kilogram, beans for Tk 70-80 a kilogram, carrot for Tk 30-50 a kilogram and tomatoes for Tk 50-60 a kilogram.
Green chillies sold for Tk 60-80 a kilogram in the city.
The price of potatoes decreased slightly and the item was sold for Tk 50-55 a kilogram on the day.
The price of broiler chicken remained high over the week and the item sold for Tk 200-210 a kilogram on Friday.
Locally variety of chicken was sold for Tk 550-600 a kilogram but Sonalika variety was being sold for Tk 300-310 a kilogram in the city on Friday.
The price of mutton remained high and the item sold for Tk 1,000-1,100 a kilogram on the day.
The prices of flour remained high and the unpacked item sold for Tk 50 a kilogram while the packed flour was sold for Tk 60-65 a kilogram in the city on Friday.
Packaged refined atta sold for Tk 70-75 a kilogram in the city.
The prices of red lentil also remained high over the week.
The coarse variety of red lentil sold for Tk 110-115 a kilogram and the medium-quality variety for Tk 125-130 a kilogram on Friday.
The price of fine variety of red lentil remained high and the item sold for Tk 135-145 a kilogram on Friday.
The prices of ginger remained high and the imported ginger was sold for Tk 200-250 a kilogram while the local variety was sold for Tk 260-300 a kilogram.
The prices of sugar also remained high over the week and the unpacked item sold for Tk 140-145 a kilogram while the packed sweetener for Tk 150-160 a kilogram in the city on Friday.
The prices of fish remained unchanged over the week in the city.
Rohita sold for Tk 300-400 a kilogram and Katla for Tk 300-440 a kilogram, depending on size and quality.
Pangas sold for Tk 180-200 a kilogram and Tilapia for Tk 160-200 a kilogram on Friday.
The price of salt also remained high and the item sold for Tk 42 a kilogram in the city.
