A curious chaos is unfolding in Dhaka's kitchen markets - broiler chicken is becoming cheaper, eggs are suddenly climbing the price ladder, and vegetables are putting up a stable fight in the ever-shifting tug-of-war of daily essentials.
On Friday, a whirlwind tour of Rampura, Malibagh, Khilgaon Taltala, and Segunbagicha revealed a market in flux. Poultry prices are falling, egg prices are climbing, and vegetable prices, while still high, are starting to mellow in some corners.
For city dwellers long reliant on eggs as an affordable protein fix, the sudden price hike - nearly Tk 10 per dozen - has ruffled more than just feathers. Once a pocket-friendly staple, eggs now sell for Tk 140 per dozen in major markets and up to Tk 145 in neighborhood groceries, up from Tk 130-135 last week.
"I've been selling eggs at a loss for months," said Abul Hossain, a wholesale egg trader in Malibagh. "The farmers have been bleeding money. Now that prices are recovering, it's only fair they get some relief."
Industry insiders say the hike is seasonal - during monsoon, prices traditionally spike. But this year, the egg market remained unusually cool for too long, forcing many small farms to shutter.
Meanwhile, broiler chicken is giving buyers a breather. Prices have slipped by Tk 10 to Tk 20 per kilogram over the past week, with broilers now retailing for Tk 160-180 per kg, depending on the shop.
However, beef lovers might need to flex their bargaining skills. While the official tag remains at Tk 750 per kg, many vendors are quietly charging Tk 780. Savvy customers, however, report snagging deals by haggling.
In the rice aisle, old miniket varieties are still testing wallets, with top-tier brands fetching up to Tk 85-86 per kg. But new miniket rice offers a silver lining, selling slightly cheaper at Tk 70, compared to the Tk 72 mark for its older counterpart.
Over in the vegetable section, there's a modest sigh of relief. With summer produce pouring in, prices are sliding - ever so slightly. Potol and dhandals now go for Tk 40-60 per kg. Other summer staples like chichinga, jhinga, kakrol, bitter gourd, brinjal, and barbati hover between Tk 50 and Tk 60.
"Supply's good right now," said Monir Hossain, a vegetable vendor near Khilgaon. "But the rain's a game changer. One good downpour, and prices shoot up again."
The wet market remains as unpredictable as the weather - with each day bringing a new round of surprises, negotiations, and culinary calculations for households across the capital.
