With Eid festivities approaching, meat and fish prices experienced a notable rise, contrasting the declining trend seen in vegetable and fruit prices in the Dhaka kitchen market.
Notably, beef and fish prices saw an upward trajectory, while essentials like rice, edible oil, sugar, wheat, and flour remained stable in price.
The decline in vegetable and fruit prices, including local seasonal favorites such as watermelon and pineapple, can be attributed to reduced demand as holidaymakers begin to depart from the capital.
A visit to various kitchen markets including Karwan Bazar, Mohakhali, Malibagh, and Hatirpool revealed a slight increase in beef, chicken, and fish prices on Friday.
Wholesalers and retailers attribute the rise in meat and chicken prices to the heightened demand ahead of Eid, while fish prices surged due to reduced supply.
Abu Bakar, a butcher at Karwan Bazar, noted that beef is being sold at Tk750 per kg, while mutton/goat meat is priced at Tk1000 to Tk1100 per kg. He emphasized that government oversight prevents sudden price hikes.
Elsewhere, beef prices ranged from Tk750 to 800 per kg on Friday, with mutton and goat meat selling between Tk1000 to 1180 per kg, representing a Tk30 to 50 increase in price.
Vegetable prices witnessed a decline overall, with exceptions for new vegetables like okra, drumsticks, string beans, and bitter gourd, which remained stable.
Tomato prices, however, saw an increase as the season nears its end, with good quality tomatoes selling at Tk60 to 70 per kg.
Other kitchen essentials like onion, garlic, and ginger remained steady in price, with eggs experiencing a slight decrease.
Fruit prices saw significant fluctuations, with watermelon prices dropping drastically to Tk40 per kg, while guava, papaya, apple, Malta, orange, and Nashi pear ranged from Tk50 to 340 per kg, witnessing a decline compared to earlier Ramadan weeks.
Overall, the prices of other kitchen items remained unchanged this week, providing a glimpse into the evolving market dynamics ahead of the festive season.
