Rising retail costs across Dhaka’s kitchen markets are putting severe financial pressure on working-class households, as price surges across red meat, poultry, eggs, and farm-raised fish force low-income families to cut back on essential proteins.
A survey of several retail markets in the capital on Friday showed red meat prices climbing further out of reach for average wage earners. Beef now sells at 850 Taka per kilogramme, up from 800 Taka just a few weeks ago—a 6.25 per cent increase within a short period. Mutton has followed a similar upward trajectory, rising by 50 to 100 Taka per kilogramme to trade at roughly 1,300 Taka, compared to previous rates of 1,200 to 1,250 Taka.
The inflationary strain is not limited to expensive red meats. Budget-friendly staples that traditionally supplied essential nutrition to low-income families are also becoming increasingly difficult to afford. Farm-raised chicken eggs have reached up to 160 Taka per dozen at retail. Broiler chicken is now priced at 200 Taka per kilogramme, whilst popular freshwater fish species such as Pangas and Tilapia sell for up to 240 Taka per kilogramme.
For day labourers and informal workers whose earnings remain stagnant, these steady price hikes are disrupting basic household budgets. Aminul Islam Sojib, a van driver operating in Karwan Bazar, earns roughly 650 Taka after a night of transporting goods across the city. Out of this single daily income, he must cover food, rent, and household necessities for his entire family.
“I used to be able to complete a simple meal with a plate of rice and an egg, but even buying eggs now requires careful calculation,” Aminul said while shopping in the market. “Buying beef for my family has become almost impossible. I bought broiler chicken a long time ago. My family relies on cheaper fish like Pangas and Tilapia, but with their prices rising too, we cannot buy them as we used to. My young daughter asks for meat, but my limited income makes it impossible to grant her wish.”
The mathematical impact of these price swings illustrates the burden on low-income workers. The recent 50-Taka increase in the price of a single kilogramme of beef represents roughly 7.7 per cent—or nearly one-thirteenth—of Aminul’s entire daily wage. When the prices of baseline substitutes such as eggs, Tilapia, and broiler chicken rise simultaneously, families are left with virtually no affordable alternative, forcing them to reduce their overall intake of protein.
Market monitoring and oversight mechanisms have faced scrutiny from consumer advocacy groups. SM Nazer Hossain, Vice-President of the Central Committee of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), noted that high prices across multiple commodity sectors continue to cause severe hardship for low-income populations. He alleged that trading syndicates artificially inflate market rates and called upon regulatory agencies to enforce stricter monitoring across supply chains.
In response, regulatory officials maintain that field supervision is actively taking place. Md. Zahirul Islam, Director General of the National Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection, stated that monitoring drives are ongoing to keep egg prices at reasonable levels, warning that strict administrative action will be taken against traders attempting market manipulation.
Beyond administrative oversight, price dynamics across urban markets are shaped by a combination of fuel costs, transportation expenses, feed prices, seasonal supply availability, and wholesale distribution margins. When these cumulative pressures push retail rates past a certain threshold, the immediate consequence falls squarely on low-income consumers, whose fixed wages can no longer cover basic dietary needs.
