Loose sugar was on Wednesday selling in Dhaka markets atTk135 to Tk 140 per kg – much higher than the government-fixed price – citing short supply. On April 8, the government set price at Tk104 per kg for loose sugar and at Tk 109 for packaged sugar. Consumers, however, complained the ceiling hardly worked. In the retail market packaged sugar has hardly been available. And even for the loose sugar the consumers have to pay Tk135 to 140 or per kg, up from Tk120 to 125 a kg last week. On Wednesday, during visits to different markets in the capital this correspondent saw no packaged sugar in the stores. Traders reported no supply of sugar since Eid-ul-Fitr festival late last month. The wholesale companies have failed to deliver citing short supply. Importers blame the short supply on the high price of sugar in international market affecting domestic supply. They are waiting for the government to decide if they would go for import at higher prices. They too have reduced imports due to higher prices. Read more: Sugar price reduced by Tk 3 per kg: Commerce Ministry According to the government agency, Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the price of sugar increased by 15 percent in a month while it increased by more than 62 percent in one year. Salmat Sarder of Chadpur Store of Karwan Bazar told UNB that packaged sugar has not been available for a long time. Loose sugar purchased at the wholesale level is more than Tk130 per kg. Still, dealers are not giving purchase receipts.

The prices of all kinds of chicken, meat, egg, and fish increased while vegetables and other essential commodity prices remained stable at a higher price in the kitchen market in the capital on Friday. People of limited income groups and job holders are frustrated and back home with half of their consumption basket to maintain a balance with their income and market rate of chicken, meat, fish, and essential commodities. On Friday the broiler chicken was sold at Tk250 to 260 per kg, marking a hike of Tk 10 a kilogram. The price of broiler chicken has shown a continuation of price hikes during the last month. In contrast, in a month, the price of broiler chicken rose by Tk 100, which is a record according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB). Pakistani and Sonali fowl prices have further increased by Tk 10 a kg as retailed at Tk 360-370 based on size. Indigenous (domestic rearing) chicken remained static at Tk 560-600 a kg, according to kitchen market sources. Rojab Ali, a chicken vendor of Tejgaon chicken market in Dhaka city, said prices have also been increasing at farm level during the last month. Read: LPG price slashed by Tk 6.33 per kg Broiler chicken price has increased to Tk 20,200 from Tk 12,000-13,000 per quintal (100 kg) at farms in Dhamrai, Nawabganj, Savar, Tangail, Sirajganj, Narshingdi, and other hubs countrywide during the period, he added. "We have no idea about the possible price of chicken during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan starting in the last week of March," Rojab pointed out. Beef  was selling at Tk 750 to 800, while mutton was selling at Tk950 to 1100 in Dhaka on Friday. Rashedul Haque, a private job holder, went to Karwan Bazar kitchen market for weekly procurement of chicken, meat, and fish items. But he returned with half of the basket as the money allocated for this purpose finished quickly. He told UNB in an irritated voice that he has to reduce 50 percent of chicken and meat consumption due to the lack of a cap on the price of these items. Rashedul blamed the failure of proper market monitoring on overpricing the chicken, meat, fish, and egg as the prices of these items went up every week.