Rising retail prices across Dhaka’s kitchen markets are pushing essential protein sources further out of reach for working-class families, as cost hikes hit staple meats, eggs, and farm-raised fish.
A spot check across several retail hubs in the capital on Friday revealed significant price spikes over recent weeks. Beef now retails at 850 Taka per kilogramme, up from 800 Taka—a jump of roughly 6.5 per cent. Mutton prices have experienced a similar surge, rising by 50 to 100 Taka per kilogramme to reach 1,300 Taka, compared to previous rates of 1,200 to 1,250 Taka.
The inflationary strain extends far beyond red meat. Once considered affordable alternatives for low-income households, basic poultry, eggs, and farmed fish have also seen steady price increases. Farm-farmed chicken eggs now cost up to 160 Taka per dozen at retail, while broiler chicken reaches 200 Taka per kilogramme. Common freshwater species like Pangas and Tilapia, long relied upon by budget-conscious consumers, now trade at up to 240 Taka per kilogramme.
For daily wage earners, these price adjustments represent severe budget contractions. Aminul Islam Sojib, a van driver operating in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar wholesale market, earns approximately 650 Taka after working through the night. A single 50-Taka increase in the price of beef accounts for nearly 8 per cent of his total daily income, making red meat an impossible luxury.
“I used to be able to finish a meal with just a bowl of rice and a single egg,” Aminul shared while shopping for household provisions. “With current egg prices, even that has become a struggle. I cannot remember the last time I bought beef—my income simply cannot cover it. My young daughter asks for meat, but after paying for basic living expenses, I cannot afford it. We used to rely on broiler chicken and cheap fish like Pangas or Tilapia, but even those are getting difficult to buy.”
Consumer rights advocates point towards market distortion as a driving factor behind the steep rises. SM Nazer Hossain, Vice-President of the Central Committee of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), noted that high prices across all commodity sectors are placing immense distress on low-income demographics. He urged regulatory bodies to tighten market oversight, alleging that trading syndicates artificially inflate prices to extract higher profit margins from consumers.
Regulators maintain that enforcement operations are underway to curb potential price gouging. Md. Zahirul Islam, Director General of the National Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection, stated that monitoring teams are actively inspecting markets to keep egg prices at fair levels, warning that strict legal action will be taken against traders attempting market manipulation.
Despite ongoing official monitoring and policy assurances, retail prices for meat, eggs, and fish remain elevated across the capital, continuously eroding the purchasing power and daily nutrition of vulnerability-prone households.
