Eggs are dearer too!

The increased cost of living is creating pressure on people while their income is on the decline.

Amid the crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak, the prices of fish, meat, rice and vegetables are also quite high. There has also been a marked increase in the price of eggs.

Buyers say that eggs are no longer in the list of cheap food.

On a recent visit to a couple of retail markets in the capital, it was found that four eggs cost Tk35-Tk36. And if someone gets a dozen eggs, it costs Tk100 – Tk108.

However, a dozen eggs cost Tk90, while four eggs cost Tk30-Tk32 a month ago.

According to market analysis by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), a state-owned marketing agency, the price of four eggs has increased by 8 percent in a month.

Samia, a housewife who came to shop at a grocery store in the Gudaraghat area of the capital, told The Business Standard, "My husband works as a garments merchandiser. But his salary has been reduced by 50 per cent for the past two months. At this time, the cost of food has increased and we are struggling to make ends meet."

Now, you cannot even rely on eggs as it has become pricey too, she said. 

When asked about the sudden price hike of eggs, Hamidur Rahman, a poultry farmer in Gazipur, said, "As there is reduced chicken production, there is a shortage in egg supply. It will take more time to overcome this crisis."

Until then, the price of eggs, broilers or other chicken varieties is unlikely to fall, he added.

It was found that at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, poultry farmers had to sell eggs at below the production cost. And many poultry farmers have not resumed production, which has created the crisis. 

Shafiqul Islam, a wholesaler of eggs near Dhaka's Beribadh area, said that the supply was far below the demand.

"The situation is under control as most of the hotels and restaurants are closed now. Otherwise the price would have increased more," he added. 

Not only eggs, potatoes now cost Tk35 per kilogram in the capital's retail markets. But it was sold at Tk28 – Tk30 around 15 days ago.

Although the price of papaya is usually below Tk30, it was sold at Tk40- Tk45 per kilogram since the onset of Covid-19. 

Most vegetables cost Tk50 or more. 

Fish traders said that there is a shortage of fish because of the floods, so the retail price of different types of fish has increased by Tk50-Tk100 per kilogram.

The prices of rice have increased already. Therefore, buyers are under substantial pressure.

Anwar Hossain, a buyer in Rampura, told The Business Standard, "We have failed to control Covid-19, and similarly we are unable to control the commodity prices. The increase in household expenses is creating pressure."