With consumers already feeling the pinch from soaring spice prices, the costs of many items have gone up further just before Eid-ul-Azha.

Decry customers as govt fails to curb rising cost of essentials

As Eid-ul-Azha approaches, consumers brace for a hike in the prices of essential commodities, a trend seen all too often ahead of Eids.

The price of the kitchen staple went up by Tk 20 per kg since last month

A standard 12kg LPG cylinder will now cost Tk 1,363, down by Tk 30 from Tk 1,393, according to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC).

People in Bangladesh have been forced to spend more on food compared to consumers in other countries, and the prices of essentials have surged to such an extent that they have become luxury items for many, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) said yesterday.

Along with price hikes of chicken and fish, some vegetables also saw rising prices in the kitchen markets of the capital yesterday, adding to the never-ending burden on the pockets of low-income groups.

Onion price has increased by Tk 10 to Tk 15 per kilo in Dhaka's kitchen markets over the past two days

The price of chicken, a staple source of animal protein for many, has increased by Tk 40-50 per kg in a month, causing frustration to low-income families.

The prices of chicken, fish, and onion have gone up in Dhaka’s kitchen markets, putting the low-income people in a bind.

The ADB’s projection comes days after the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics said economic growth in the October-December quarter of fiscal 2023-24 halved to 3.78 percent, the slowest pace in three quarters, as manufacturing output growth declined sharply owing to reduced domestic consumption.

Inflation edged up in March after marginally easing in the previous month, showing no signs of respite to consumers already hurt by the consistent erosion of buying capacity due to elevated prices. 

Much to the frustration of people from low-income groups, the price of chicken, one of the most common sources of animal protein, has shot up by Tk 30 to Tk 40 per kg over the last couple of days in the capital’s kitchen markets.

Traders in city’s kitchen markets blame sudden rise in demand ahead of Eid

State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu said yesterday that the government will fix rice prices based on variety and seasonal production costs to combat price manipulation in domestic markets starting this Baishakh, the first month of the Bangla calendar.

Prices of beef, chicken and potatoes have increased in the capital’s kitchen markets over the last week and a half.

The prices of onions have come down in the country’s markets despite India’s indefinite ban on the export of the vegetable.

Setting the prices of produces would not rein in the spiralling prices of essentials, said Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh yesterday.

India has extended its ban on onion exports indefinitely -- a surprise move that comes ahead of a general election.

Fruit sellers on Kemal Ataturk Road in Banani have been found selling guavas at Tk 200 per kg, whereas the usual price for guavas in Dhaka city is Tk 80 per kg