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Fish, mutton and beef prices have gone up in kitchen markets across the capital, at a time when the ever-increasing costs of essentials and its impacts on low and middle income consumers is the most talked about issue in Bangladesh.
A spot visit to several markets in Dhaka on Sunday showed that the prices of various types of fish have jumped by nearly Tk 50-150 per kg within just a week.
Traders are selling big-sized prawns for Tk 1,000 per kg, compared to Tk 850 last week. Meanwhile, middle-sized prawns and small shrimps are being sold for Tk 700 – Tk 800 per kg, an increase from Tk 650 – Tk 700.
In the month of January this year, the small variety of shrimp was being sold for Tk 500 – Tk 550 per kg, and big-sized prawns for Tk 700-800 per kg.
Different sizes of hilsa were available in the markets, mainly coming from Myanmar and Chattogram, but Padma hilsa prices were higher.
A large hilsa was being sold for Tk 1,450 per kg, compared to Tk 1,250 – Tk 1,350 per kg last week. Besides, a medium-sized hilsa was being sold for Tk 1,300 per kg, up from Tk 1,100 – Tk 1,200 per kg. Earlier this January, big-sized hilsa were being sold for Tk 1,200 – 1,300 per kg while small hilsa was being sold for Tk 600 – Tk 700 per kg on the kitchen markets in the capital.
Catla was being sold for Tk 700 per kg, while small sizes of Rupchanda for Tk 400, Climbing Perch for Tk 600 and stinging catfish for Tk 280.
Local stinging catfish was being sold for Tk 800 – Tk 1,000 per kg, compared to Tk 700 – Tk 900 last week. Besides, farmed stinging catfish was being sold for Tk 500 – Tk 600 per kg depending on size and quality.
Speaking to The Business Post, fish trader Md Sujan of Mirpur-1 said, “All fish prices are going up day by day, and it will continue to go up in the coming days.”
On the other hand, mutton prices have hit Tk 950 per kg, a sharp rise from Tk 850 – Tk 900 in the previous week. Data from the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) shows that Bangladesh’s goat population increased to 25.9 million in 2018 from 25.6 million in 2016.
Beef prices have shot up too, hitting Tk 650 per kg in the city’s markets on Sunday, compared to Tk 620 – Tk 630 per kg last week.
According to the DLS, the annual meat consumption demand in Bangladesh is 7.3 million tonnes, against which the country is producing 7.6 million tonnes.
Amid the price hike of essential items, on March 6, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) started the sale of daily essentials at subsidised prices, which will continue till March 24. A total of 150 trucks will sell essential items every day, according to a notification from the TCB.
