Eggs, chillies and other essentials see price surge; consumers in distress

Prices of daily essentials have climbed once again in the capital's kitchen markets, with eggs selling at Tk 50 per hali (four pieces) and most vegetables priced at Tk 70 per kg or above. Green chillies have seen the sharpest rise, now selling at around Tk 400 per kg depending on quality.

Visits to the Mirpur-11 and Karwan Bazar markets on Thursday revealed that most vegetables were priced higher than the previous week. Beans and brinjals were the most expensive at Tk 110-120 per kg, with bitter gourd selling at Tk 80-90 per kg. Seasonal vegetables like kakrol were also priced at Tk 80 per kg, while cucumber was selling at Tk 100 each.

The egg market has also seen a steady upward trend, with farm eggs selling at Tk 50 per hali in neighbourhood grocery stores, and Tk 145 per dozen. According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), egg prices have risen over 14 percent compared to the same period last year.

The spice market has been hit hardest by the green chilli price surge, which has nearly doubled in just one week from Tk 150-220 to Tk 340-400 per kg. Onions were selling at Tk 60-80 per kg, while broiler chicken was priced at Tk 180-190 and golden chicken at Tk 320-340 per kg.

The fish market has also seen significant price hikes, with pangas and tilapia now selling at Tk 230 and Tk 260 per kg respectively. Marine fish prices have soared beyond the reach of ordinary consumers, with hilsa selling at Tk 1,600-3,200 per kg. Customers expressed frustration over the soaring prices, with many saying they were struggling to manage their household budgets.