The prices of broiler chicken and imported variety of garlic witnessed further rise on the kitchen markets in the capital Dhaka over the week ending Friday as Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the biggest religious festival for the Muslims, is approaching.
Retail traders said that the prices of broiler chicken and garlic continued to rise for the past two weeks on the wholesale markets while almost all other commodities remained pricey since the start of Ramadan, the fasting month for the Muslims.
Bangladesh Poultry Association president Sumon Howlader blamed corporate groups for increasing the price of broiler chicken ahead of Eid.
He said that the production cost for poultry chicken increased as big companies illogically increased the prices of day-one chicks and poultry feed.
The prices of broiler chicken increased by Tk 10 a kilogram on the city markets and the item sold for Tk 220-230 a kilogram on Friday.
Locally bred hens sold for Tk 550鈥�600 a kilogram on the day.
Sonalika variety of chicken sold for Tk 330鈥�350 a kilogram in the city on Friday.
The Department of Agricultural Marketing on March 15 set the prices of broiler chicken and Sonalika at Tk 175.30 a kilogram and Tk 262 a kilogram respectively.
The price of imported garlic increased by Tk 20 a kilogram on the kitchen markets in Dhaka and the item sold for Tk 220鈥�240 a kilogram while its local variety retailed at Tk 120鈥�140 a kilogram on Friday.
The price of potato maintained an upward trend over the week and the item sold for Tk 45 a kilogram on the city markets on Friday.
The DAM had set the retail price of potato at Tk 28.55 a kilogram by analysing production cost, profit for farmers as well as traders at a rational level.
The price of beef also remained high and the item sold for Tk 750-780 a kilogram on Friday although the DAM had set the price of the item at Tk 664.39 a kilogram.
Mutton sold for Tk 1,000鈥�1,100 a kilogram on Friday.
The price of local variety of onion decreased slightly and the item sold for Tk 45-50 a kilogram while the imported item sold for Tk 55-60 a kilogram on Friday.
The price of ginger remained high and imported ginger sold for Tk 200-220 a kilogram while its local variety sold for Tk 250-280 a kilogram.
The prices of rice remained high and coarse and medium-quality varieties of rice sold for Tk 54鈥�60 a kilogram on Friday.
Lower-grade Miniket sold for Tk 65-70 a kilogram over the week.
The fine variety of Miniket sold for Tk 74鈥�78 a kilogram and Najirshail for Tk 75鈥�80 a kilogram on Friday.
The prices of atta remained high and its unpackaged item sold for Tk 50 a kilogram while its packaged item 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鈥�130 a kilogram on Friday.
The price of fine variety of red lentil remained high and the item sold for Tk 135鈥�145 a kilogram on Friday.
The government had set the price of the coarse variety of red lentil at Tk 105.50 a kilogram while that of its fine variety at Tk 130.50 a kilogram.
The prices of fish also remained high over the week in the city.
Rohita sold for Tk 300鈥�400 a kilogram and Katla for Tk 300鈥�440 a kilogram, depending on size and quality.
Pangas sold for Tk 180鈥�200 a kilogram and Tilapia for Tk 160鈥�200 a kilogram on Friday.
The prices of average standard date increased by Tk 30-40 a kilogram and sold for Tk 280-400 a kilogram on the city markets on Friday.
The prices of sugar decreased a little but still remained high over the week and its unpackaged item sold for Tk 140-142 a kilogram while its packaged item for Tk 145-150 a kilogram on the city markets on Friday.
The prices of vegetables decreased slightly in the city over the week.
Aubergine sold for Tk 40-60 a kilogram, papaya for Tk 30鈥�40 a kilogram, bitter gourd for Tk 70-80 a kilogram, cucumber for Tk 50鈥�60 a kilogram, beans for Tk 50-60 a kilogram, carrot for Tk 30鈥�40 a kilogram and tomatoes for Tk 40鈥�60 a kilogram on Friday.
The prices of green chillies remained unchanged and the item sold for Tk 60-80 a kilogram in the city on Friday.
Unpackaged soya bean oil sold for Tk 145-150 a litre while the packaged item sold for Tk 163-165 a litre on the day.
A five-litre bottle of soya bean oil sold for Tk 780-800 on the city markets.
The price of palm oil remained high and the item sold for Tk 130-140 a litre in the city on Friday.
The price of eggs decreased by Tk 2-3 a hali (four pieces) and the items sold for Tk 40-42 a hali in the city on Friday.
The price of salt also remained high and the item sold for Tk 42 a kilogram in the city.