A dozen eggs in Dhaka’s markets rose from Tk145-150 to around Tk155-160 in a single week, according to market visits reported by Dhaka Tribune, as days of rain disrupted supply chains already strained by months of farmer losses. Individual eggs now sell for roughly Tk13-14, continuing a climb that the Bangladesh Poultry Association says follows seven months in which farm-gate prices sat at or below Tk8 each, below the government’s fixed floor price.
Vegetable prices moved more sharply still. Green chilli rose about a third, climbing to Tk160 a kilogram, while yardlong bean, round eggplant and cucumber all posted double-digit increases. Not every vegetable moved the same direction: tomatoes and papaya actually fell in price over the same period, while gourd varieties held roughly steady, a pattern vegetable seller Rafiqullah Khan of Narinda Bazar attributed to several days of rain cutting the supply reaching wholesale markets from farms.
Fish and meat prices stayed comparatively stable. Beef held at Tk800 a kilogram and broiler chicken at Tk180-190, though sonali, hybrid and layer chicken prices dipped slightly even as eggs climbed, a divergence traders attributed to differing supply conditions between live-bird and egg production chains.
Farmers finally see relief, consumers do not
The price rise marks a reversal for poultry farmers after a punishing stretch. The Bangladesh Egg Producers Association has blamed heavy rain and humidity between July and September for cutting daily output by 4 to 5 million eggs against demand of 40 to 45 million, a shortfall that is now showing up as higher retail prices. Farm-gate prices below Tk8 each for seven months straight had pushed many smaller poultry farms out of business, and the association’s leadership said the recent increase could help surviving farms recover financially.
For consumers, though, the relief for farmers is squarely their burden. Egg trader Masum, quoted by Dhaka Tribune, put it plainly: prices have not fallen, they have increased. Day labourer Abul Hossain said even fish such as pangas and tilapia had become too expensive for his household, while office worker Zahidur Rahman said vegetable prices were noticeably higher than just a week earlier.
Officials watching, not yet acting
Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan, secretary of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, has called for the Department of Livestock Services, the Department of Agricultural Marketing and the Commerce Ministry to meet urgently, warning that prices will keep climbing without government action. No such coordinated response has yet been announced.
Vegetable sellers say prices should ease once the current rain clears and supply from farms normalises, but with the egg market still working through months of accumulated farmer losses, Bangladeshi households may be waiting longer for relief at the breakfast table than for relief at the vegetable stall.
The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh’s own price records show just how volatile the past two years have been, with retail egg prices swinging from Tk150-155 a dozen in November 2024 down to Tk118-125 by early 2025 before climbing again this autumn. That volatility makes it difficult for either farmers or consumers to plan around a stable price, and consumer advocates say the repeated swings strengthen the case for a more consistent government role in smoothing supply rather than reacting only once prices spike. Some market traders say a buffer stock or more predictable farm-gate floor price, consistently enforced rather than adjusted after the fact, would help smooth the cycle for both producers and shoppers.
