During visits to several markets, including Mohakhali and Karwan Bazar, on Friday (October 24), prices of vegetables, chicken, fish, and meat were found to have increased further compared to last week.
On-the-spot visits revealed that tomatoes were selling for Tk 100 per kg, beans for Tk 100–120, bitter gourd for Tk 80, chichinga (snake gourd) for Tk 40, okra (dherosh) for Tk 60, papaya for Tk 30, pointed gourd (patol) for Tk 50, and radish for Tk 60.
In addition, onions were priced at Tk 80 per kg, brinjal (eggplant) at Tk 80–100, kachur mukhi at Tk 40–50, barboti (yardlong beans) at Tk 100, potatoes at Tk 25, and cucumbers at Tk 60 per kg.
Small cauliflowers and cabbages were selling for Tk 40–50 per piece, while green chilies were being sold at Tk 160 per kg.
Traders said that the supply of local vegetables in the market had decreased slightly, which caused prices to rise over the past week. Due to higher prices, many buyers have reduced their purchases, leading to a drop in overall sales despite higher rates. “The prices are up, but profits are low,” said several vendors.
Buyers expressed frustration at the ongoing price hike, saying it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage household expenses.
“The prices of daily essentials have risen so much that it’s hard to manage three meals a day with my salary,” said Apel Mahmud, a private employee who was shopping at Rampura Raw Market. “It’s now difficult to eat fish or meat even once a week, which is causing malnutrition problems,” he added.
The poultry market has also remained stable at high prices. Broiler chicken was selling for Tk 170 per kg, golden chicken for Tk 280–300, red layer chicken for Tk 320, and local chicken for Tk 550–600 per kg.
Prices of beef and mutton were unchanged, with beef selling at Tk 760–800 per kg, mutton at Tk 1,200, and goat meat at Tk 1,100 per kg.
Vendors said the supply of chicken in the market remains low but expressed hope that prices might fall slightly next week if supply improves.
Fish lovers are also feeling the burden of rising costs. Boal fish was selling for Tk 800–1,000 per kg, coral for Tk 850–900, ide for Tk 700–800, cultivated rui for Tk 300–450, and katol for Tk 450 per kg.
In addition, tilapia was priced at Tk 180–220, cultivated pangash at Tk 200, cultivated tangra at Tk 550–600, pabda at Tk 350–400, and shing fish at Tk 400–600 per kg.
“There is no marine fish available in the market right now, which is pushing up prices of local and farmed fish,” said Aslam, a vendor at Mohakhali Raw Market.
Abdul Quader, another private sector employee shopping at the same market, said, “With prices of everything rising so fast, it’s becoming nearly impossible to meet monthly expenses.”
As prices of essential commodities continue to climb week after week, economists warn that the prolonged inflationary pressure could further erode the purchasing power of the middle class and low-income households — widening the cost-of-living crisis in urban areas.
