Home ›› 24 Mar 2023 ›› Front
The prices of broiler chicken have risen to Tk 270 per kg just two days before Ramadan starts amid government assurance that essential prices will remain under control during the holy month for Muslims.
Sector people say this is the result of rising production costs caused by increased feed prices.
During Ramadan last year, broiler chicken was sold at Tk 175 per kg, which means this time around the price saw a 54 per cent rise when it went up to Tk 270 on Wednesday, according to Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data.
Bangladesh Poultry Farm Protection National Council General Secretary Khandaker Mohsin said the price of poultry feed has increased due to various reasons. At the same time, utility costs have also risen.
“That’s why the chicken price hike has become necessary,” he said.
Visits to various kitchen markets, including Mohammadpur Town Hall, Rampura, Maniknagar and Mugda, in Dhaka city on Wednesday showed that the chicken market suddenly became unstable before Ramadan like every year.
Some buyers complained that retail traders were selling broiler chickens at whatever price they want. Traders at some markets even sold chickens at Tk 290 per kg in recent days.
After causing panic among consumers for two days, the price decreased slightly on Wednesday but it’s still out of reach for many.
However, the price of Sonali breed and locally bred chickens remained the same. Sonali chickens were sold at Tk 360-370 per kg in small and large kitchen markets on Wednesday and locally bred chickens at Tk 580-600.
Traders admitted that the retail market has suddenly become volatile ahead of Ramadan but it will hopefully return to normal after a week as the demand for chickens will drop with hotels and restaurants remaining closed during the month of fasting.
Zakir Hossain, a chicken trader at the Mohammadpur Town Hall market, said they decide the selling price based on the rate they buy chicken on the day. “Compared to last week, the price of chicken has increased by Tk 10 per kg.”
TCB data analysis showed that the prices of all types of chicken suddenly increase every year. The prices had gone up by Tk 10-15 per kg last year as well three-four days before Ramadan.The sudden instability in the chicken market started last Monday. The chicken prices increased by Tk 15 per kg within three days.
It has been alleged that some unscrupulous traders took advantage of the increased demand and pushed up the prices. The price of farm eggs was also up on Wednesday. A dozen of eggs was costing customers Tk 140-150 — which was Tk 130-135 two days ago.