Prices of daily essentials, including chicken and vegetables, continue to fluctuate across Dhaka's kitchen markets, while fish prices remain consistently high.
Consumers complain that unchecked pricing and weak monitoring have left them at the mercy of traders, who cite low supply as the reason behind surging prices.
During visits to several markets in the Rampura-Malibagh area on Friday, this correspondent found that all varieties of fish were selling at elevated prices.
Rui was being sold at Tk 350-450 per kg, katla at Tk 380-450, farmed catfish at Tk 550-600, farmed magur at Tk 500, koi at Tk 200-250, coral at Tk 750, pangash at Tk 180-220, and tilapia at Tk 200-220.
Locally sourced fish were priced even higher: boal at Tk 750-850, tengra at Tk 650-700, local koi at Tk 800-1,000, and shing at Tk 1,000-1,200 per kg.
Prices of hilsa-the national fish-also remained steep. One kg of hilsa was selling for Tk 2,200, one-and-a-half kg for Tk 2,500, while 700-800g and 500-600g hilsa were priced at Tk 1,700-1,800 and Tk 1,400-1,500, respectively.
Mahmudur Rahman, a private sector employee, said, "While prices of meat, chicken, eggs, and vegetables go up and down, fish prices remain high. It's been months since they dropped. Today again, all types of fish are being sold at unaffordable rates."
Another buyer at Malibagh market, Aslam Islam, said, "Despite the consistent high prices in the fish market, no one seems to be monitoring it. Traders set prices arbitrarily. Sellers don't care whether we buy or not-others will."
Kamal Hossain, a fish trader at Rampura market, explained, "Fish prices have risen because the cost of production has gone up. Feed prices are high, so farmers raise fish at greater cost. Wholesalers pass on the expense, and we have no choice but to sell at higher rates."
Meanwhile, prices of other essentials showed mixed trends. Branded miniket rice, including Diamond, Manjur, and Rashid, is now selling at Tk 75-78 per kg-down from Tk 88-90 two weeks ago. Prices of other rice varieties remained stable.
Vegetable prices, however, have gone up since Eid-ul-Fitr. Green papaya is now Tk 80 per kg, with traders blaming reduced supply. Most vegetables were selling between Tk 70-80 per kg. Patol sold at Tk 70-80, kankrol at Tk 90-100, tomatoes at Tk 40-50 (depending on quality), cucumber at Tk 60, local cucumber at Tk 40, pumpkin at Tk 50-60 per piece, and bitter gourd at Tk 60 per kg.
Other vegetables included kachurmukhi at Tk 100-120, green bananas at Tk 45-50, sajna data at Tk 150-160, chichinga at Tk 60, dhandas at Tk 60, and green chillies at Tk 160-180 per kg.
In terms of staples, local onions were priced at Tk 55-60 per kg, potatoes at Tk 25-30, local garlic at Tk 140-160, and imported garlic at Tk 220-240. Sugar was selling at Tk 120, thick lentils at Tk 110-115, and local thin lentils at Tk 140.
Egg prices saw a modest rise this week, with each dozen now selling for Tk 145-up by Tk 5. "Prices are slightly up because we're buying at a higher rate," said Sabuj Ahmed, an egg trader at Mirpur Kitchen Market No. 11.
Housewife Zara Amin, shopping for eggs, said, "Two weeks ago I bought eggs for Tk 130 per dozen. Now they're Tk 145. Traders keep saying eggs will disappear from the market."
Another buyer, Mahfuz, commented, "Whatever happens globally-war, crisis, anything-prices here go up. Even if there's conflict between India and Pakistan, we know our market won't be spared."
Despite the egg price hike, chicken prices remained steady. Broiler chickens were selling at Tk 170-180 per kg, and Sonali chickens at Tk 280-300 depending on quality. Beef prices stood between Tk 750-800 per kg.
