Farm chicken prices jump Tk50 in a month

The price of broiler chicken has jumped by nearly Tk 50 within a month in different kitchen markets across Dhaka due to high demand and low supply.

On a spot visit to the city’s kitchen markets on Friday, The Business Post found that broiler chicken is being sold for Tk 190 to Tk 195 per kg, a price increase from Tk 145 – Tk 150 per kg in mid-September.

Meanwhile, the price of Sonalika Chicken has increased by nearly Tk 30 during the same period. In mid-September, per kg of Sonalika chicken was being sold for Tk 290 – Tk 295, but the price has now gone up to Tk 310 – Tk 320 per kg.

Chicken traders said the price increased as demand for the item soared in hotels and restaurants. They also said customers now prefer chicken in various festivals such as weddings, which has contributed to the higher demand and the subsequent price increase.

Md Jasim, a seller at Al Baraka Chicken House at Mirpur-1, said, “Broiler chicken is now selling for Tk 187 to Tk 196 per kg, which was Tk 182 to Tk 185 per kg last week. We are currently selling Sonalika chicken for Tk 315 to Tk 320 per kg.”

Speaking to The Business Post, a number of customers expressed their dissatisfaction over the recent price hike of all essential commodities including chicken, soybean oil, onion and vegetables.

Consumers also said both chicken and edible oil prices have gone up so much that it is no longer affordable. Traders however say they are following the price that has been recently set by the Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners & Vanaspati Manufacturers Association.

Abdur Rahman, owner of Russel Varieties Store at Mirpur, said, “Per litre bottled soybean oil is now being sold for Tk 160, which was Tk 153. The association raised the price of soybean oil by Tk 7 and palm oil by Tk 3 per litre on October 19, and we are following these prices right now.”

Besides, the association set the maximum retail price (MRP) for per five-litre bottled soybean oil at Tk 760, per litre palm oil at Tk 118 and non-bottled soybean oil at Tk 136. However, prices will remain unchanged for edible oil already in stock, authorities had earlier said.

On October 17, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Md Jasim Uddin urged the businessmen to keep the prices of basic commodities within the limits of the consumers and said that business profit should be rational.