Eggs, once regarded as one of the most affordable sources of animal protein for low-income families in Bangladesh, have become increasingly expensive, adding to the strain on household budgets already under pressure from high food prices.

At around 10am on Saturday, homemaker Sajuda Begum bought four eggs from Samiti Bazar in East Nakhalpara, Tejgaon, in the capital, for Tk 55. For a family dependent on a daily wage, even such a modest purchase has become a matter of concern.

Sajuda said her husband works as a painter at a workshop and earns Tk 600 a day. His income is the family’s main source of livelihood. With fish and meat largely beyond their regular budget, the family depends mainly on eggs and vegetables to meet their nutritional needs.

“Vegetable prices are high, so we used to eat eggs more often. Now eggs have become expensive too,” she said, expressing concern over how the family will manage its food expenses.

The recent rise in egg prices is particularly significant for households such as Sajuda’s because eggs are often considered a relatively accessible alternative to fish and meat. When the price of one staple rises, families with limited incomes have little room to absorb the additional cost.

A market survey in Samiti Bazar, Karwan Bazar and Nakhalpara found that farm-produced white eggs were selling for Tk 140-145 a dozen, while brown eggs were priced at Tk 145-150. In neighbourhood shops, however, customers were being charged Tk 55 for four eggs. At that rate, a dozen would cost Tk 165.

The higher prices have reportedly persisted for around two months. Data from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh also indicate that egg prices have risen by more than 3 per cent over the past month.

Consumer representatives have raised concerns over possible manipulation of the market. They allege that some traders may be taking advantage of supply and demand conditions to increase margins, making a basic source of protein less affordable for ordinary consumers.

Retailers, however, offer a different explanation. According to them, vegetable prices tend to rise during this period of the year, prompting some consumers to rely more heavily on eggs. The resulting increase in demand, they argue, contributes to higher prices.

Some traders also claim that a significant proportion of eggs supplied to Dhaka comes from Tangail. They allege that traders in the capital have considerable influence over prices and communicate the rates at which eggs should be sold to businesses in different parts of the country through WhatsApp. According to the traders, transactions then take place at those communicated rates.

Saiful Gazi, a retail egg seller at Karwan Bazar, said wholesale prices fluctuate frequently. “Wholesalers reduce the price for two days and then raise it for three,” he said, adding that repeated increases have pushed the price towards Tk 150 a dozen.

The current situation also recalls the sharp rise in egg prices in September and October 2024, when a dozen eggs reached Tk 160-165. In response to the unusually high prices at the time, the Ministry of Commerce set a retail price of Tk 11.87 per egg, equivalent to Tk 142 a dozen.

The pressure is not confined to Dhaka. Egg prices have also risen sharply in Chattogram. A dozen eggs that sold for Tk 140-145 a week earlier are now being sold for Tk 160-165, representing an increase of around Tk 15-20 per dozen within a week.

At Bahaddarhat, a major market in Chattogram, wholesale sales centre trader Ahmed Faruk said egg prices had remained stable for some time before rising again. He attributed part of the recent increase to rain and said higher prices charged by supplying farms and wholesalers were eventually being reflected at the retail level. Similar prices were observed at Chowmuhani Bazar near Agrabad.

SM Nazer Hossain, president of the Chattogram divisional committee of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, said inadequate market monitoring allows unscrupulous traders to exploit consumers. He called for action against those responsible for unjustified price increases.

He also recalled the sharp rise in egg prices in 2024, saying the price had already exceeded the level that prompted government intervention at that time. He questioned whether traders involved in previous price increases were again becoming active in the market.

Supply conditions in Chattogram have also come under pressure. According to traders, between 2 million and 2.5 million eggs are traded in the city every day, with the majority coming from outside the region.

The Chattogram divisional livestock department said more than 6,000 poultry and duck farms were affected by floods in July. Among the affected establishments were farms raising layer chickens, which are responsible for egg production. Local production was already insufficient to meet the city’s demand, meaning any disruption to outside supplies could add to market pressure.

The flood damage has therefore been cited as one of the factors behind the recent increase. At the same time, allegations of market manipulation have kept the focus on whether supply shortages alone can explain the price movement.

Atia Sultana, director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, said market monitoring was being conducted regularly. She said the authorities would examine whether any manipulation was taking place in the egg market.

For low-income consumers, however, the immediate concern is the rising cost of a food item that has traditionally offered a relatively inexpensive way to add protein to daily meals. As egg prices move closer to, and in some retail markets exceed, levels seen during the 2024 price surge, closer monitoring of supply chains, wholesale pricing and retail margins is likely to remain crucial for protecting consumers from unnecessary increases.