Price volatility continues to persist across kitchen markets in Chattogram, leaving regular shoppers with little relief. Whilst commodity prices fluctuate from week to week, pressure remains particularly high on vegetables, fish, eggs, and chicken.
Visits to Reazuddin Bazar, Bahaddarhat, and Chawkbazar on Friday revealed that prices of several vegetables have surged by Tk20 to Tk40 per kilogramme within a week, alongside elevated rates for fish, eggs, and broiler chicken.
According to market observations, green chillies were selling at Tk160 per kg on Friday, marking a Tk40 increase from Tk120 a week prior. The price of yardlong beans rose from Tk80 to Tk120 per kg, whilst aubergines saw a Tk20 hike, rising from Tk120 to Tk140 per kg.
Additionally, cucumber prices climbed from Tk50-60 to Tk80 per kg, and country beans were selling at Tk200 to Tk210 per kg, up from Tk180 to Tk200 recently.
However, prices for carrots, ribbed gourd, and bitter gourd remained stable at Tk80 per kg, with pointed gourd prices staying close to last week’s lowest rates.
In the fish section, Jewel Sheikh, a fish seller at Reazuddin Bazar, explained that high prices at wholesale hubs, coupled with transportation and overhead expenses, leave retail vendors with minimal scope to reduce prices.
Meanwhile, poultry and eggs continue to impose an extra financial burden on consumers.
On Friday, broiler chicken was sold at Tk190 to Tk200 per kg, while farm eggs were priced at Tk160 per dozen. Egg traders at Chawkbazar said retail rates have remained unchanged for several days because wholesale prices have failed to drop significantly.
Traders attributed the supply deficit to floods, heavy rainfall, and heatwaves over the past five to six months, which reduced egg production and broiler chicken stocks across farms. They maintained that prices are unlikely to fall until supply conditions fully normalise.
