The onset of cooler weather has done little to ease food prices in Dhaka, with most vegetables still selling at between Tk 80 and Tk 200 per kilogram. Egg prices have also risen by Tk 10 a dozen, while fish and meat remain costly, putting additional pressure on household budgets.

The latest market situation was recorded during visits to several markets in the capital on Tuesday (6 October), where shoppers said they were increasingly having to calculate their spending before buying even basic food items.

Vegetable prices remain elevated

A wide range of vegetables were found to be selling at relatively high prices. Tomatoes and carrots were priced at Tk 120–130 per kilogram, while long aubergines were selling for Tk 100 and round aubergines for Tk 120.

French beans were among the most expensive vegetables at Tk 200 per kilogram. Local cucumbers were priced at Tk 80–90, bitter gourd at Tk 100, and kakrol at Tk 80–100.

Okra, pointed gourd, snake gourd, ridge gourd and several other vegetables were available at around Tk 80 per kilogram. Yardlong beans were selling for Tk 90, while taro stems cost Tk 80–100. A whole bottle gourd was priced at Tk 60–70.

Olives have also started appearing in markets with the approach of winter, but their arrival has not brought much relief to consumers. They were selling for Tk 130–140 per kilogram. Green chillies were even more expensive, with prices ranging from Tk 140 to Tk 160 per kilogram.

For many shoppers, the concern is not limited to one or two expensive products. The cumulative cost of vegetables, fish, meat and other essentials is making it harder for people with limited incomes to keep their monthly spending within budget.

Shariat Ullah, a student at Jagannath University, said the rising cost of food had made it increasingly difficult to manage his expenses. He said he had previously been able to cover his costs through private tutoring, but now had to seek financial assistance from his family as well.

Vegetable seller Akash Rahman said retailers were also facing pressure because they had to purchase produce at higher prices. According to him, sellers would prefer to offer lower prices but could not do so when wholesale purchase costs remained high. He expressed hope that prices could ease as the supply of winter vegetables increases.

Egg prices rise as chicken remains steady

Chicken prices have remained broadly unchanged in the markets surveyed. Broiler chicken was selling for Tk 180–190 per kilogram, while cock chicken was priced at Tk 310–330.

Beef was available at around Tk 800 per kilogram and mutton at Tk 1,250.

Egg prices, however, have moved upwards. A dozen brown chicken eggs were selling for Tk 160, while white eggs cost Tk 150. Duck eggs were priced at Tk 180 a dozen.

The price of chicken eggs has increased by Tk 10 per dozen, with four eggs costing around Tk 55.

Egg seller Adnan Mia said retailers were also buying eggs at higher prices and therefore selling them at higher rates. He said sellers themselves were uncertain about the exact reasons behind the latest increase, although the broader rise in food prices could be contributing to the situation.

Fish prices add to the burden

Fish prices are also keeping household food bills high. Hilsa was selling for between Tk 1,200 and Tk 2,700 per kilogram, depending on size and weight.

Rui was priced at Tk 400–600 per kilogram, while katla cost Tk 350–650. Prawns ranged from Tk 800 to Tk 1,800, reflecting differences in size and quality.

Kachki fish was selling for Tk 500 per kilogram, koi for Tk 260, pabda for Tk 400–600, shing for Tk 400–1,200 and tengra for Tk 600–800. Pangas remained comparatively cheaper at Tk 220–240 per kilogram.

The high prices are forcing consumers to rethink how they shop. Sheikh Russell, who was buying fish, said he used to purchase larger quantities without having to worry much about the total bill. Now, he said, every purchase has to be made after considering the available budget.

The market situation highlights the pressure facing consumers as several essential food categories remain expensive at the same time. For families already working with tight monthly budgets, even relatively small increases in individual items can add significantly to overall spending.

Shoppers are now looking towards the coming weeks, when the supply of winter vegetables is expected to increase. A larger supply could provide some relief in the vegetable market, but for the moment, consumers in Dhaka continue to face high prices across a broad range of everyday foods.